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United Airlines is preparing to launch its first farm-waste powered airplane and will today announce a $30 million investment in aviation biofuels producer Fulcrum BioEnergy. The move comes as airlines face increasing pressure to reduce their fuel-related emissions. 

Airplane engine-maker Pratt & Whitney is going green to attract and keep the best workers, says environmental chief Mary Anne Cannon. The company is aiming for 100% recycling of manufacturing waste, is holding its supply chain accountable for its actions and has curbed factory emissions by 28% since 2000. The company performs life-cycle assessments to measure the effects of its products, Cannon says

The airline expects that across the lifetime of the new trays, they will see a 45% reduction in greenhouse gasses (and associated fuel costs) compared with the old trays

British Airways and biofuel producer Solena Fuels selected a site east of London for building the world's first plant for converting landfill waste to aviation biofuel. British Airways will purchase 50,000 metric tons of jet fuel per year from the facility when it comes online in 2017.

Many of the world's biggest airlines are experimenting with bio-derived jet fuels in a bid to reduce their costs and emissions. "Aviation will double in size worldwide in the next two decades, and if we're not able to provide a sustainable means to fly, we will create a ceiling for growth in the industry," says Ignaas Caryn, director of innovation at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

JetBlue Airways became the first U.S. airline company to join the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, a multi-stakeholder coalition that works to promote the sustainability of biomaterials.