CNN Business Traveller

SHOW #78

The Three "R"s-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Even in a recession, the environment should remain a priority. Business Traveller looks at whether the environment is a concern for business travellers and the travel industry in today's economic climate, to explore green initiatives run by airlines, airports and hotels...and what is the definition of "being green" in the travel industry? How relevant are the three Rs today? Reduce, reuse, recycle.

AIRLINES

Aviation has long been criticised for the amount of carbon emissions the industry collectively contributes to climate change. Airlines and airframe manufacturers are doing something about its 3% contribution. Research and development is underway to find a viable alternative to jet fuel, and with the Boeing Dreamliner and Airbus’ A530 – aircraft are becoming more and more fuel-efficient. Adrian Finighan was at an aviation environmental summit in Geneva where he caught up with airlines about other measures being undertaken to be more green.

HOTELS

If a hotel uses recycled toilet roll does it make it green? And the same goes for having signs to reuse towels and sheets. Ayesha Durgahee looks at whether hotels are actually doing any good for the environment and not just a bit of eco-tokenism. ONne example is the Marriott in San Francisco that uses hotel waste as compost/fertilizer in a vineyard – sells the resultant wine in the hotel restaurant called ‘Trash Wine’.

E-WASTE

Before casting out old mobile phones, blackberries, laptops and getting acquainted with the laest models, we can donate them instead for other people to use. Recycling old gadgets is not new but the number of initiatives have grown over the past few years, like Computer Aid that sends computers donated from companies and airlines to Nigeria. Even though we think we are doing good, there are some countries that violate EU laws concerning illegal dumping in developing countries – in most cases, the donated goods do not work and are being sold on the black market or being taken apart where the components are toxic. CNN Business Traveller looks at the positive and negative impact of these recycling initiatives.

UNCONVENTIONAL FURNITURE

Artist Dave Hall of Moto Art based in LA dismantles parts of a Boeing 737 at Mojave desert (we shot there last year) and turns them into furniture – a wing section into a desk, landing gear into lamp stand. He has already filmed a time lapse of making the furniture that we can use.