Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC) has commissioned a state-of-the-art solar power system across its premises, as part of a continued investment in infrastructure to improve resource efficiency.
EKFC’s solar rooftop power plant comprises 8,112 individual solar panels and is expected to generate 4,195 megawatt-hours of electricity annually, allowing the company to reduce traditional energy consumption by 15% across its laundry, food manufacturing and staff accommodation facilities. Consequently, EKFC’s carbon dioxide emission will decrease by 3 million kgs annually – the equivalent of the annual electricity use of 518 family homes.
EKFC will shortly start constructing the world’s largest vertical farming facility in a joint venture with US-based Crop One. The 130,000 square foot controlled environment facility will produce 2,700 kg of high quality, herbicide- and pesticide-free leafy greens daily, using 99% less water than outdoor fields. Its location will enable quick delivery of fresh products within hours of harvest, maintaining the food’s nutritional value and reducing carbon emissions associated with transportation. The first products are expected to be delivered to Emirates Flight Catering’s customers in 2020.
EKFC runs a comprehensive recycling programme, ensuring recyclable items, including plastic bottles, aluminium cans and foil, are separated from galley waste after they are removed from the aircraft. The company also has all cardboard packaging and office paper waste recycled into new paper products.
Every month, EKFC diverts over 270,000 kgs of material from landfill and ensures the recycling of 130,000 kgs of cardboard, 4,000 kgs of paper, 14,000 kgs of aluminium cans and foil, 120,000 kgs of glass bottles and 10,000 kgs of plastic bottles.
