Editing United Airlines (section)

=== Environmental initiatives ===
Because over 98 percent of United's [[greenhouse gas]] emissions are from jet fuel, its environmental strategy has focused on operational fuel efficiency initiatives and investments in sustainably produced, [[Alternative fuel|low-carbon alternative fuels]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 11, 2016 |title=United Airlines is flying on biofuels. Here's why that's a really big deal. |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/03/11/united-airlines-is-flying-on-biofuels-heres-why-thats-a-really-big-deal/?noredirect=on |url-status=live |access-date=May 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305023811/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/03/11/united-airlines-is-flying-on-biofuels-heres-why-thats-a-really-big-deal/?noredirect=on |archive-date=March 5, 2021}}</ref>

On August 23, 2011, United announced a conversion to paperless flight decks with 11,000 [[iPad]]s for its pilots. Each iPad, which weighs less than {{convert|1.5|lb}}, will replace approximately {{convert|38|lb}} of paper operating manuals, navigation charts, reference handbooks, flight checklists, logbooks, and weather information. The green benefits include reductions in paper use, printing, and fuel consumption.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-08-23 |title=United Airlines Launches Paperless Flight Deck With iPad |work=[[PR Newswire]] |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-airlines-launches-paperless-flight-deck-with-ipad-128240343.html |url-status=live |access-date=2023-11-01 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216233733/http://ir.unitedcontinentalholdings.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=83680&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1599253&highlight= |archive-date=February 16, 2013}}</ref> This shift not only streamlines the flight process but also significantly enhances operational efficiency and safety by ensuring pilots have the most up-to-date information readily available.

On November 7, 2011, United flew the world's first commercial aviation flight on a microbially-derived biofuel. The aircraft was fueled with 40 percent Solajet, which is [[Solazyme]]'s algae-derived renewable jet fuel, and 60 percent petroleum-derived jet fuel. This flight was operated by the Eco-Skies Boeing 737-800 aircraft from IAH to ORD.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-11-07 |title=United Airlines Flies First U.S. Commercial Advanced Biofuel Flight |work=[[PR Newswire]] |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-airlines-flies-first-us-commercial-advanced-biofuel-flight-133358153.html |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=2023-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102100238/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-airlines-flies-first-us-commercial-advanced-biofuel-flight-133358153.html |archive-date=November 2, 2023 }}</ref>

On January 15, 2013, Aviation Partners Boeing (APB), a joint venture between [[Aviation Partners Inc.]] and Boeing, announced that United had agreed to replace the [[Wingtip device|Blended Winglets]] on its Boeing 737NG aircraft with APB's Split Scimitar Winglet (SSW), significantly reducing drag. Once the SSWs are installed, it is estimated that APB's winglet technology will save United more than $250 million annually in fuel costs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aviation Partners, Inc. |date=January 15, 2013 |title=Aviation Partners Boeing Launches Split Scimitar Winglet Program |publisher=PR Newswire |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aviation-partners-boeing-launches-split-scimitar-winglet-program-186934521.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729200524/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aviation-partners-boeing-launches-split-scimitar-winglet-program-186934521.html |archive-date=July 29, 2018}}</ref>

On June 30, 2015, United invested US$30 million in Fulcrum BioEnergy, an alternative fuel company. Fulcrum's alternative fuel is produced through a clean and efficient thermochemical process and reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by more than 80 percent. As part of its investment, United will work with Fulcrum to develop up to five alternative fuel refineries near its U.S. hubs. These refineries will produce up to {{convert|180|e6USgal|e6L|abbr=off|sp=us}} of sustainable aviation alternative fuel per year, and United will have the opportunity to purchase at least {{convert|90|e6USgal|e6L|abbr=off|sp=us}} per year for a minimum of 10 years, making it the largest aviation alternative fuel commitment to date.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=United Airlines Purchases Stake in Fulcrum BioEnergy with $30 Million Investment |date=June 30, 2015 |publisher=United Airlines |url=http://newsroom.united.com/2015-06-30-United-Airlines-Purchases-Stake-in-Fulcrum-BioEnergy-with-30-Million-Investment |access-date=December 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202052556/http://newsroom.united.com/2015-06-30-United-Airlines-Purchases-Stake-in-Fulcrum-BioEnergy-with-30-Million-Investment |archive-date=December 2, 2017}}</ref>

On March 11, 2016, United became the first airline in the world to fly on commercial-scale quantities of such fuels on a continuous basis, which were procured from AltAir Fuels. This fuel was produced from sustainable feedstocks such as non-edible natural oils and agricultural wastes and is expected to provide a greater than 60 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions on a lifecycle basis when compared to traditional jet fuel. United has agreed to purchase up to {{convert|15|e6USgal|e6L|abbr=off|sp=us}} of sustainable alternative fuel from AltAir Fuels for use in [[Los Angeles]] over a three-year period.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=United Airlines Makes History with Launch of Regularly Scheduled Flights Using Sustainable Biofuel |date=March 11, 2016 |publisher=United Airlines |url=http://newsroom.united.com/2016-03-11-United-Airlines-Makes-History-with-Launch-of-Regularly-Scheduled-Flights-Using-Sustainable-Biofuel |access-date=December 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124031116/http://newsroom.united.com/2016-03-11-United-Airlines-Makes-History-with-Launch-of-Regularly-Scheduled-Flights-Using-Sustainable-Biofuel |archive-date=November 24, 2017}}</ref>

In 2016, United began partnering with [[Clean the World]] to repurpose items from the airline's international premium class amenity kits and donate the hygiene products to those in critical need. Clean the World provides hygiene education and soap to promote handwashing, which helps prevent hygiene-related deaths. During the first year of this partnership, United expected to divert {{convert|60000|lb|-2}} of material that otherwise would have gone to landfills.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=United Airlines and Clean the World Partner to Assemble Hygiene Kits For Hub-Based Charities |date=October 26, 2016 |publisher=United Airlines |url=http://newsroom.united.com/2016-10-26-United-Airlines-and-Clean-the-World-Partner-to-Assemble-Hygiene-Kits-For-Hub-Based-Charities |access-date=February 19, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202053206/http://newsroom.united.com/2016-10-26-United-Airlines-and-Clean-the-World-Partner-to-Assemble-Hygiene-Kits-For-Hub-Based-Charities |archive-date=December 2, 2017}}</ref>

In 2017 United started a partnership with [[Audubon International]] to protect raptors—including hawks, ospreys and owls—in and around New York-area airports and resettle the birds-of-prey at suitable golf course habitats where the species are more likely to thrive.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=United Airlines and Audubon International Team Up to Protect Raptors at New York-Area Airports |date=July 24, 2017 |publisher=United Airlines |url=http://newsroom.united.com/2017-07-24-United-Airlines-and-Audubon-International-Team-Up-to-Protect-Raptors-at-New-York-Area-Airports |access-date=December 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202053157/http://newsroom.united.com/2017-07-24-United-Airlines-and-Audubon-International-Team-Up-to-Protect-Raptors-at-New-York-Area-Airports |archive-date=December 2, 2017}}</ref>

In 2022 United expanded it's use of [[Aviation biofuel|sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)]] overseas, to [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.]] It was the first US airline to purchase sustainable jet fuel overseas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=United Becomes First U.S. Airline to Sign Agreement to Purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel Overseas |url=https://united.mediaroom.com/2022-05-10-United-Becomes-First-U-S-Airline-to-Sign-Agreement-to-Purchase-Sustainable-Aviation-Fuel-Overseas |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=United - Newsroom}}</ref> United went on to begin the use of sustainable fuel at [[San Francisco International Airport]] and [[London Heathrow]] in 2023,<ref>{{Cite news |title=United Airlines will use lower-carbon fuels in San Francisco, London |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/united-airlines-will-use-lower-carbon-fuels-san-francisco-london-2023-05-04/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230522202457/https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/united-airlines-will-use-lower-carbon-fuels-san-francisco-london-2023-05-04/ |archive-date=2023-05-22 |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}</ref> and at [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago O'Hare]] and [[Los Angeles International Airport]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=United Airlines sign 8m gallon SAF offtake deal with Phillips 66 |url=https://www.safinvestor.com/news/146568/united-airlines/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=SAF Investor |language=en-US}}</ref>