On April 21, Santan, the catering arm of NextBuy Group (Capital A), announced that it is transitioning from single-use plastics to biodegradable plastics, and that all disposable items onboard, including cups, lids and cutlery, will be made from polylactic acid (PLA)- - a renewable resource derived from corn and cassava.
Developed by Rightway New Material, PLA offers key advantages over traditional plastics and breaks down faster. Studies have shown that PLA breaks down more than 90% in industrial composting, while traditional plastics take hundreds of years to break down, and Santan's PLA-coated paper cups are certified for home composting, providing commuters with a more convenient and environmentally friendly waste disposal solution.
The program is currently being rolled out in Malaysia and Thailand and is planned to be extended to the seven airlines in the AirAsia Group. By adopting PLA, Santan is setting an example to others in the industry of what is possible when combining high quality service with environmentally friendly solutions.
Santan recognizes the challenges faced by the waste management segment, where disposable packaging is critical for hygiene and operational efficiency. As a result, the company is using artificial intelligence to optimize food resource management and is moving towards the use of compostable tableware. By facilitating forecasting and reducing overproduction, this approach minimizes food waste while improving supply chain efficiency and ultimately leading to more sustainable resource use and operations.
Capital A (formerly AirAsia Group) is an investment holding company with a portfolio of synergistic travel and lifestyle businesses that leverage data and technology, including the AirAsia SuperApp, fintech company BigPay and logistics startup Teleport.AirAsia (AirAisa) is the airline subsidiary of Capital A. The company is a member of the AirAsia Group.
