Sustainability

Caring for the Planet Means Caring for Its People

The work of an airline is about connecting people with communities, with experiences and with each other. As a purpose-driven airline, we're committed to doing our part to make the world a much better place to live. It's a mission we embrace both as a corporation and, even more powerfully, as 80,000 individuals living and serving across the world.

View our 2018 Corporate Responsibility Report (PDF)

Changing How We Fly with Tomorrow in Mind

Jet fuel is the No. 1 contributor to our 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 introduced 84 new aircraft – like the state-of-the-art A220 – to our fleet that are 25% 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. Our carbon offset program directly supports projects like the Conservation Coast – a 54,000 hectare conservation that provides sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

OFFSET YOUR FLIGHT

Partner with us to offset the environmental impact of your flight by protecting forests and supporting communities.

OFFSET NOW

Alternative fuels, sustainable future

Fuel efficiency and carbon-neutral growth alone are not enough to address the risks of global climate change. To help take the next step, we’re using biofuels and carbon offsets to take 20 carbon-neutral delivery flights of the A321 aircraft.

Addressing Climate Change

fuel-efficient aircraft

With purchase commitments for 168 new, fuel-efficient aircraft over the next 2 years, older, less-efficient models will be phased out.

carbon-neutral growth

We’ve voluntarily purchased over 12 million carbon offsets for carbon-neutral growth since 2012.

Lowering emissions

With electric ground vehicles and fuel-efficiency gains, emissions have been reduced 11% since 2005. Our goal – cut emissions in half by the year 2050.

Improving Our Environment by Reducing Our Impact

We continually assess all aspects of our waste handling operations to minimize what we send to landfills and identify opportunities for material reuse and recycling.

Reducing Single-Use Plastics

We’re removing single-use plastic items from our aircraft and Sky Clubs, including stir sticks, wrappers, utensils, and straws, replacing them with reusable and compostable alternatives. Earlier this year we updated the TUMI amenity kits to remove the plastic outer wrap, and in the process diverted over 30,000 pounds of plastic waste from landfills in one year.

Making the most of recyclable materials

We were the first U.S. airline to recycle cans, newspapers, magazines and plastic bottles and cups from aircraft. Over the past 10 years, Delta has recycled more than 3 million pounds of aluminum from onboard waste – equivalent to 22 Boeing 747s – and as an added benefit, recycling proceeds have funded construction of 12 homes out of the 260+ we’ve built through Habitat for Humanity.

Giving new life to old uniforms

When our employees received new uniforms in May of 2018, over 1 million items were retired. To prevent those uniforms from ending up in landfills, 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

plastic waste reduction

The move to eco-friendly materials onboard and in Delta Sky Clubs has eliminated 300,000 pounds of plastic waste annually.

air and ground recycling

The onboard and ground recycling programs combined to salvage 1,345 tons in 2018 alone.

upcycling impact

350,000 pounds of material were saved from landfills with the 2018 uniform upcycle initiative.

Community Engagement

Find out about Delta’s involvement in the community and how Delta employees help make the communities where they work and live a better place.

News Feed

Expand All

September 26, 2019 Delta contributes to Global Citizen movement to end extreme poverty by 2030

The multi-million dollar contribution will help power the movement to bridge the funding gap in the 59 poorest countries to reach the 2030 United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

Delta's partnership with Global Citizen illustrates the airline's commitment to connecting the world while making it better through environmental stewardship, diversity and inclusion, and community development.

September 26, 2019 Delta earns high marks on sustainability from four organizations

Delta leaders and people work hard to run our business responsibly and sustainably, and it's being noticed. Our efforts were recognized recently by organizations from Atlanta to London to Zurich.

September 24, 2019 Dr. Jane Goodall shares the power of connecting the world through sustainability

Delta was honored to host world-renowned conservationist, Dr. Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and U.N. Messenger of Peace, at the Delta Flight Museum on Sept. 20, to discuss the connections that unite people around the world, caring for the environment and to share her message of hope with Delta people.

Supported by Delta's Sustainability Business Resource Group Green Up, this quickly became one of the largest employee events the airline has organized while featuring an outside speaker series with over 1,000 employees in attendance.

View all of our sustainability updates.

Reports

Note: Delta has been publishing annual Corporate Responsibility Reports (CRRs) since 2009. To request a CRR prior to 2016, please contact sustainability@delta.com