Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Join Forces with Lonely Whale to Promote a Sustainable Future by Featuring Seaweed Stories Inflight, Highlighting the Role of Marine Plants in Combating Plastic Pollution

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are taking a significant step towards a more sustainable future by joining forces with Lonely Whale to feature the powerful short film Seaweed Stories on their inflight entertainment platforms. This collaboration is designed to raise awareness about the critical role that marine plants, particularly seaweed, play in combating plastic pollution and restoring ocean ecosystems. By showcasing this film to their passengers, both airlines aim to inspire action toward environmental preservation, encouraging travelers to reflect on their personal impact on the planet and explore ways to support a cleaner, healthier ocean. This initiative reflects the airlines’ longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship and their dedication to promoting sustainability within the travel industry.

The film, narrated by renowned actor Forest Whitaker and directed by Jake Sumner, delves into the extraordinary potential of marine plants, particularly seaweed, in combating the growing threat of plastic pollution and preserving ocean ecosystems. As travelers embark on their summer journeys, both airlines aim to raise awareness about the critical issues of plastic pollution and inspire viewers to take actionable steps toward fostering a more sustainable future for our oceans. The airlines are encouraging passengers to reflect on how they can make a positive impact on the environment during their travels, as well as when they return home.

A Legacy of Sustainability Initiatives

Alaska Airlines has long been a trailblazer in the airline industry when it comes to environmental stewardship. In 2018, the airline made history by launching its #StrawlessSkies initiative, becoming the first U.S. airline to eliminate single-use plastic stir straws and citrus picks on board. This bold move, undertaken in collaboration with Lonely Whale, set a new benchmark for reducing plastic waste in the aviation industry.

Following the success of #StrawlessSkies, Alaska Airlines continued to build on its environmental achievements. In 2019, it partnered with Lonely Whale again to launch the #FillBeforeYouFly campaign, encouraging passengers to bring their own pre-filled reusable water bottles on flights. This initiative helped reduce the use of disposable plastic bottles onboard, furthering the airline’s efforts to minimize single-use plastics and waste.

Innovative Waste Reduction Practices

Alaska Airlines has also embraced cutting-edge solutions to address waste reduction in the skies. Recently, the airline entered into a partnership with Ridwell, a Seattle-based startup that specializes in waste diversion. Together, they successfully recycled over 17 pounds of hard-to-process items from flights. This collaboration highlights Alaska Airlines’ commitment to adopting innovative and sustainable practices that reduce inflight waste and minimize the environmental impact of its operations.

Hawaiian Airlines’ Commitment to a Sustainable Future

Hawaiian Airlines shares a similar dedication to environmental sustainability and has been actively phasing out single-use plastics from its onboard services. As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce waste, the airline introduced the world’s first certified carbon-neutral amenity kit, which is made from recycled and recyclable materials. This pioneering initiative is a key component of Hawaiian Airlines’ strategy to lessen its carbon footprint while providing passengers with high-quality products that align with the airline’s environmental values.

In addition to its sustainable inflight offerings, Hawaiian Airlines promotes responsible tourism through its Travel Pono (Responsibly) inflight video series. This educational initiative equips millions of travelers with important information about how they can visit Hawaii’s islands while caring for the natural resources, cultures, and communities they interact with. By providing resources and encouraging mindful travel, Hawaiian Airlines aims to foster long-term environmental and cultural sustainability in the region.

Collaborating for a Greener Tomorrow

The partnership between Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Lonely Whale exemplifies a collective effort to address one of the most pressing challenges facing the planet: plastic pollution. By showcasing Seaweed Stories, both airlines hope to inspire passengers to adopt more sustainable behaviors and make conscious choices in their daily lives, whether it be reducing plastic consumption, supporting eco-friendly products, or engaging in responsible travel practices.

Through their continued commitment to sustainability, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are not only advancing environmental stewardship within the aviation industry but are also leading by example for travelers worldwide. Together, they demonstrate that large-scale change is possible when airlines, passengers, and organizations like Lonely Whale come together to protect our oceans and the environment.

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are teaming up with Lonely Whale to feature Seaweed Stories inflight, highlighting the vital role marine plants play in combating plastic pollution and promoting a sustainable future for our oceans.

In celebration of World Oceans Month and beyond, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines invite all travelers to join them in their mission to reduce waste, protect marine ecosystems, and promote a more sustainable future for generations to come.