Japan Airlines Offers “Ethical Choice Meal Skip Option” to Reduce Food Waste

Japan Airlines (JAL) is taking a unique approach to tackle food waste on flights by offering the ‘JAL Ethical Choice Meal Skip Option’ to its customers. This option, initially introduced in 2020 on select routes, allows passengers to opt out of the inflight meal service. Recently, JAL announced that this choice will now be available for all flight bookings worldwide.

The airline encourages passengers to consider skipping their inflight meals as a more sustainable choice that helps reduce food waste. JAL also suggests that forgoing a meal can contribute to a more uninterrupted and comfortable travel experience, especially during lunch or dinner times.

In addition to the environmental benefits, JAL is taking a philanthropic approach with the ‘Meal Skip’ option. The airline plans to donate a portion of the proceeds from each ‘Meal Skip’ to the TFT Secretariat, an organization that supports school meal programs for children in developing countries. However, some travelers remain skeptical, questioning the transparency of the donations and expressing concerns that the initiative may be driven more by cost-cutting motives than genuine charity.

To opt out of the inflight meal service, passengers need to indicate their preference at least 25 hours before their scheduled departure time. This can be done through the JAL website by selecting the ‘No Meal’ option.

JAL’s initiative to reduce food waste aligns with the findings of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which reported that approximately 1.14 million tonnes of food were wasted from inflight catering in 2017. The IATA study also revealed that unconsumed food and drink accounted for 20% of waste generated during passenger flights.

By offering the ‘Meal Skip’ option, JAL aims to contribute to its broader sustainability goals. The airline is committed to transforming air travel into a value to be proud of and aims to achieve zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

While the ‘Ethical Choice Meal Skip Option’ presents a novel approach to address food waste, it remains a subject of debate among passengers. Whether viewed as a commendable effort to minimize waste or a potential cost-saving strategy, the choice ultimately lies with individual travelers seeking to make more conscious decisions during their inflight experience.