Emirates Group: sustainability at the heart of "Tomorrow Takes Flight"
The Emirates Group showcased its latest sustainability initiatives during 'Tomorrow Takes Flight', the annual event held in Dubai to highlight the group's environmental progress. The 2025 edition was inspired by the United Nations campaign against plastic pollution, with a focus on concrete practices of responsible consumption, waste reduction and innovation in processes.
During the event, particular attention was paid to the solutions adopted by Emirates and dnata, both at an operational and strategic level. The exhibition presented projects already implemented and under development in different sectors: engineering, catering, cargo, airport operations, on-board services, travel and logistics.
One of the most highlighted innovations is the possibility, already active, of converting disused aircraft components into functional and design objects. The "Aircrafted by Emirates" project is enriched with new elements created from recycled metals and composite materials.
On-board products made from alternative or recycled materials, food waste management solutions, recycling systems in cargo centers and environmental education projects were also on display. More concrete initiatives include plastic clean-up activities in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and an interactive demonstration of Emirates Flight Catering's new biodigester. Sustainable food tastings were offered in partnership with MMI, Emirates Leisure Retail, dnata Catering & Retail and Emirates Flight Catering.
dnata presented a diverse range of interventions implemented in its international markets: plant-based packaging in kitchens, enhancement of ingredients to reduce food waste, advanced recycling in the most sustainable cargo centers and lounges with the aim of drastically reducing waste. dnata Travel's projects include the installation of a river interceptor in Sri Lanka to stop plastic waste before it reaches the ocean and the distribution of reusable items to employees, supporting an environmentally friendly corporate culture.
The event also involved strategic partners such as Ecyclex and Reloop, who showed how the recycling of different types of waste, including electronic waste, is managed in collaboration with Emirates Group IT. Falcon Aircraft Recycling exhibited products derived from parts of decommissioned aircraft, while Dubai Can illustrated the progress of the Dubai Reef, the largest project in the world dedicated to the creation of an artificial coral reef for ecological purposes.
The contribution of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) has helped to contextualise the Emirates Group's commitment to the Global Sustainable Development Goals, in line with the official UN theme for 2025: #BeatPlasticPollution. Dubai Airports also participated in the initiative, illustrating the strategies adopted for the intelligent management of airport waste.
The event was enriched by interactive activities for staff, including quizzes, challenges and sustainability-themed games. Employees also contributed to the creation of the "Bottle Wall", a wall made up of bottles collected in the previous days and then recycled into plant pots distributed to staff, a symbol of the concrete change promoted within the Group.
