Sustainability
Carbon Neutral from March 2020 Onward
Delta’s commitment to sustainability is about joining arms to create a better world. The airline’s ambitious commitment to carbon neutrality from March 2020 onward is coming to fruition with swift impact through immediate actions, coupled with long-term investments to combat climate change. These investments will drive innovation, advance clean air travel technologies, accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions and waste, and establish a path to a more sustainable future.
"Connecting the world and protecting our environment for future generations cannot be mutually exclusive. Travelers should not have to choose between seeing the world and saving the world. We must continue to take immediate actions today and can’t wait for future solutions to become a reality. While there are many paths to carbon neutrality, Delta chose to make an impact today and invest in a future where aviation itself becomes cleaner for the world around us."
-- Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines
-- Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines
Delta has undertaken a multi-year effort to achieve more sustainable air travel - from being the first and only U.S. airline to voluntarily cap greenhouse gas emissions at 2012 levels, to retiring more than 200 older aircraft in 2020 and replacing them with planes that are 25 percent more fuel-efficient, to mitigating more than 13 million metric tons of 2020 emissions.

An Ambitious Path Forward
Delta is focusing these efforts on three areas: carbon reduction and carbon removal, stakeholder engagement and coalition building.
Jet fuel is the No. 1 contributor to Delta’s carbon footprint and the chief focus of our efforts to reduce our emissions and manage our environmental impact.
Building a more efficient fleet
We focus on building our fleet to have the longest, most sustainable life possible to make the most of our planet’s resources. Over the past year, we’ve retired more than 200 aircraft and are replacing them with aircraft that are 25 percent more fuel-efficient than the models that are being replaced.
Reducing emissions through Carbon Offsets
Carbon offsets reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, which lowers greenhouse gas levels – the primary culprit for global warming and climate change. To ensure we are fully carbon neutral since our commitment was announced, Delta is addressing 13 million metric tons of its carbon dioxide emissions from March 1 to Dec. 31, 2020 through verified offsets.
OFFSET YOUR FLIGHT
Partner with us to offset the environmental impact of your flight by protecting forests and supporting communities.
Alternative fuels, sustainable future
Delta’s medium-term goal is to replace 10 percent of its jet fuel refined from fossil fuel with sustainable aviation fuel by the end of 2030. Delta has even started executing industry-leading sustainable fuel agreements with corporate customers to support a future of more sustainable business travel.
Improving Our Environment by Reducing Our Impact
Delta continually assesses all aspects of our operations to minimize what we send to landfills and identify opportunities for material reuse and recycling.
Reducing Single-Use Plastics
We use compostable stirrers onboard and removed wrappers from cutlery and amenity kits, eliminating 30K lbs. of waste annually. We’re evaluating changes to more single-use plastics through lifecycle analyses.
MAKING THE MOST OF RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
Since 2007, we’ve recycled more than 3 million pounds of aluminum onboard and, with the rebates, have funded the construction of 12 homes through Habitat for Humanity.
Giving new life to old uniforms
In 2020, 50,000 pounds of uniform apparel were sent for waste-to-energy recovery, avoiding the landfill. In 2018, we embarked on one of the largest single company textile diversion programs in U.S. history. To accomplish this, we donated clothing articles to those in need, upcycled fabrics and retired seat leather into a special product line, and down-cycled remaining materials into products like home insulation and pet bed stuffing.
Waste Reduction Highlights
PARTNERSHIPS
Delta is partnering with universities, foundations, and others to explore circular economy solutions to waste.
ON-THE-GROUND DONATIONS
A donation program was launched in 2020 to divert food, blankets, amenity kits and other provisioning items to various organizations. 2.6 million pounds of materials were donated last year.
ZERO-WASTE SKY CLUBS
All Delta Sky Clubs use eco-friendly packaging for to-go foods. MSP, SEA, and SFO clubs are zero-waste, as in 90% landfill diversion. These clubs recycle, compost, and provide eco-friendly food service items.
News Feed
Glossary of Terms
Reports
Note: Delta has been publishing annual Corporate Responsibility Reports (CRRs) since 2009. To request a CRR prior to 2017, please contact sustainability@delta.com