Environmental, Social and Governance Sustainability

At Delta, sustainability is defined as “meeting the company’s financial goals of growth and profitability over time, through innovative business practices that minimize the environmental impacts of Delta operations and promote the health, welfare, and productivity of the individuals and communities we employ and serve."

2017 Corporate Responsibility Report

See how Delta is charting our own course forward to have a meaningful impact on the people we encounter, while mitigating the impact our business has on our environment for future generations.

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CARBON OFFSETS: HOW YOU CAN HELP

Through our partnership with the Nature Conservancy, you can now help offset the environmental impact of your travel by supporting forest protection projects that produce measurable benefits to the atmosphere.

Community Engagement

Delta gave more than $45 million back to communities in 2017. Learn more about Delta’s involvement in the community and how Delta employees help make the communities where they work and live a better place.

ESG Reports & Policies

Learn more about Delta’s commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance transparency through our Corporate Responsibility Reports and Environmental Policies.

The Latest News & Updates

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October 24, 2018 Beyond the straw: Delta removes single-use plastics onboard, in clubs

Delta Air Lines is continuing the removal of a variety of single-use plastic items, including stir sticks, wrappers, utensils and straws from its aircraft and Delta Sky Clubs. The ongoing effort comes on the heels of the global airline's leading move to remove plastic wrap from international Main Cabin cutlery in April, and is expected to eliminate more than 300,000 pounds in plastic waste annually – that's more than the weight of two Boeing 757 aircraft.

Other moves contributing to Delta's long-time sustainability efforts include the elimination of unnecessary plastic wrapping from Delta One amenity kits, and reducing Styrofoam in the cafeterias at Delta's Atlanta headquarters in favor of compostable and/or reusable alternatives. Delta's Minneapolis office campus ditched Styrofo am altogether in 2015.

October 11, 2018 Delta partners with American Red Cross to help those affected by Hurricane Michael

When disaster strikes, Delta's support helps the American Red Cross provide food, shelter and cleanup to those in need. As Hurricane Michael approaches the coastline of the Panhandle of Florida, and the Red Cross prepares to respond, Delta's support as an Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) participant at the $1 million level, allows the organization to be strategic in disaster response.

The American Red Cross is Delta's longest-standing nonprofit partner, which has allowed the company, its employees and customers to help people in need for more than 75 years. In addition to ADGP funding, employees participate in corporate blood drives throughout the year, making Delta the largest corporate sponsor of American Red Cross blood drives with 11,085 pints in Fiscal Year 2018 (Year End June 30).

September 28, 2018 Delta celebrates National Honey Month with Honey Hangar party, tour of bee yard

Delta’s partnership with Bee Downtown supports the airline’s commitment to be an environmentally sustainable, responsible business.

Winter is coming and beekeepers across the U.S. this September are spending National Honey Month preparing their hives by completing the last few harvests of honey for the year. Established in 1989 by the National Honey Board, the event marks the end of the harvesting season while promoting the sweet treat and its multitude of uses. Delta is also ‘winterizing’ its three beehives, which were installed this April in partnership with innovative and eco-friendly startup Bee Downtown. The organization partners with companies to host beehives at their offices.

September 26, 2018 Delta and Habitat for Humanity build 10th and 11th homes funded by onboard recycling program

"If you have any items you wish to discard, please do so now as flight attendants begin to make one last round around the cabin," the P.A. announces, as the plane begins to make its descent. Recyclable goods like empty soda cans and plastic bottles are gathered from tray tables, handed off to a flight attendant, then, at Delta, are likely transformed into a home.

Last Friday in Atlanta, Delta employees worked alongside two Atlanta families to put the finishing touches on the 10th and 11th Habitat for Humanity homes funded by the airline's Inflight Recycling Program.

September 19, 2018 Delta contributes $500K to American Red Cross for disaster relief in response to Hurricane Florence

Delta Air Lines will contribute $500,000 to the American Red Cross to aid in the relief efforts in the Carolinas and surrounding areas as a result of Hurricane Florence, which made landfall in North Carolina last week. The slow moving system dumped record amounts of rain leaving behind severe flooding and widespread destruction.

Red Cross volunteer and mother and daughter"Delta stands in support of the people affected by Hurricane Florence," said Tad Hutcheson, Delta's Managing Director of Community Engagement. "We are grateful to have partners like the American Red Cross and to be able to contribute to experts that specialize in disaster response year-round and can help provide immediate assistance to those in need."

September 18, 2018 Delta again earns spot on prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index

For the eighth consecutive year, Delta has earned a spot in the transportation section of the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index.

This year's ranking comes on the heels of Delta publishing its latest Corporate Responsibility Report, which outlines the environmental, social and governance steps that Delta is voluntarily taking to be a more responsible corporation, to lessen its impact on the environment and position it as an industry leader.