World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) is bringing back its Steps to Sustainability feature for the 2025 event, which takes place this week in Hamburg (8-10 April). This interactive visitor experience will showcase 17 companies exhibiting at WTCE that offer interesting products for airlines, cruise, and rail operators looking to consider their environmental impact.
Steps to Sustainability is so named as it takes the form of a walking route around the halls of Hamburg Messe, with sustainable solutions for the onboard services market along the way. The exhibits have been curated by Matt Crane, WTCE Ambassador and director of the Aviation Sustainability Forum.
‘Green’ foods and beverages
Several premium and speciality food offerings will be found along the trail, such as Koppert Cress, a specialist in fresh natural microgreens and edible plants for catering. Another featured exhibitor is Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, with its estate-produced olive oils and condiments, created using zero-emissions production processes. Another taste of luxury will be provided by Valrhona Selection, with its range of sustainably sourced confectionery, drinks and chocolate products, made using traceable ingredients, fair trade practices, and sustainable production methods.
From the beverage sector, Bottega Spa will be showing its selection of Italian wines, sparkling beverages, and non-alcoholic options. From vineyards to distilleries and cellars, the drinks producer has brought in sustainability measures including eco-packaging and Equalitas certification, to organic vineyards and waste recycling programmes.
The trail also takes in Palm Bay, a new exhibitor at WTCE, which supplies a variety of wine options to airlines. Palm Bay has been carbon-neutral since it launched, and the company now maintains one of New Zealand’s largest solar displays.
Continuing along the trail, Clipper Teas will highlight its organic and fair-trade range of teas, while Ly Company Italia will be showing its high-quality water in sustainable and customisable packaging, with 250ml sizes for onboard and travel caterers.
Passenger and environment comfort
There will also be a section of the trail dedicated to onboard amenities. Buzz will showcase its range of environmentally friendly amenity kits, headphones, blankets, and other passenger comfort item. Similarly, Formia will present its amenity kits, comfort items and onboard service products, emphasising luxury, sustainability and functionality.
Another supplier, Plane Talking Products, will feature its meal service equipment, onboard textiles and amenities, while Intex will be showing its range of duvets, pillows, headrests, and linens for airlines, produced using methods that are efficient in terms of energy and raw material use.
Eco-friendly solutions
Some WTCE visitors will be interested in reusable food and beverage containers. Their needs may be met by DeSter with its FlyLight reusable cup, a lightweight design optimised for stacking, loading and washing in aircraft galleys. In addition, Linstol will be showing its certified recyclable paper cups, and discussing its zero-waste production initiatives, and use of recycled plastics in headsets and earbuds.
Meanwhile, first-time exhibitor BioNatur Plastics will bring its full line of flexible plastics for in-cabin films, all made from recyclable and landfill-biodegradable materials, while Nature’s Source will introduce its Carbon Tracking Platform, an all-in-one solution for eco-friendly packaging clients, offering real-time carbon footprint tracking, environmental goal monitoring, and carbon neutrality strategies.
The Steps to Sustainability feature will sit alongside the Wellbeing Walk Through, another visitor trail, featuring companies such as Wessco International, Procurall Solutions, 4700BC Gourmet Snacks, Nairn’s Oatcakes, and Whittard of Chelsea. WTCE visitors can also take the Tech Trail, where companies will show key trends shaping the future of onboard services.
WTCE is co-located with Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX). Both shows will take place at Hamburg Messe from 8-10 April 2025.
For more information on World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo 2025 and to register for free, visit: https://www.worldtravelcateringexpo.com/en-gb.html
