Aviation stimulates the economy, trade and tourism, generates business opportunities and enhances quality of life in both developed and developing regions. However, aviation does produce approximately two percent of human-caused CO2 emissions, and addressing greenhouse gas emissions will require a global approach.
In 2018, we became the first U.S. airline to publicly commit to a carbon emissions reduction target. Since then, we’ve embraced the goal of becoming 100% green by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions 100% by 2050.
To meet this goal, we’ll continue to invest in fuel efficiency improvements across our fleet and our entire business. But because fuel efficiency alone won’t be enough to reach this ambitious target, we also intend to invest in new technology, like sustainable aviation fuel that emits far less CO2 than conventional fuel on a lifecycle basis.
You can also view our entire emissions footprint on our Corporate Responsibility Report. Read more
Improving fuel efficiency is critical to our ability to manage our carbon footprint. Here are the actions we take to improve our fuel efficiency.
Since 1990, we've improved our fuel efficiency by more than 45 percent. United has made significant investments in a modern, fuel-efficient fleet while implementing operational and procedural changes to drive fuel conservation.
We constantly review the amenities of our aircraft for lighter-weight alternatives, as lighter aircraft consume less fuel and produce fewer emissions. Learn more
Shutting down one engine and taxiing on the other saves five million gallons per year, or the equivalent of removing 9,000 cars from the road.
By avoiding applying thrust at low altitudes, aircraft can save fuel—while also reducing noise impacts to cities.
Rather than taxiing aircraft between flights, United’s fleet of 69 SuperTugs at 10 airports saves eight million gallons each year by moving nearly 500 aircraft every day between the gates and hangars.
We routinely wash our aircraft engines to reduce drag and emissions.
Where possible, we provide aircraft parked at the gate with air conditioning and electric power via alternative, emissions-reducing methods rather than using the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit.
Over 4,000 of our ground service equipment (GSE) around the world are electric or use alternative fuels, including high adoption at airports such as Los Angeles (70 percent), Houston (70 percent) and San Francisco (65 percent). United also encourages employee ridesharing, and provides commuter benefits and electric vehicle charging at select locations.
United has LEED certified buildings in Chicago, Houston and San Francisco. One of the largest green roofs in Chicago is on our United Cargo building at O’Hare. Also, we’re conducting an energy efficiency audit on our top 10 energy using facilities in our network, which make up 85 percent of our non-fuel energy use.
Emissions from sources that are owned and/or controlled by United. This includes:
Jet fuel for United flights - 34,263,909*
Sustainable aviation fuel - 6,850
Vehicles - 65,161
Facilities - 80,573
Dry ice from catering - 4,147
*in metric tons CO2e
Emissions from the consumption of purchased electricity or other energy sources. This includes:
Electricity consumption - 201,690
Emissions from sources not directly owned and/or controlled by United. This includes:
Regional jet fuel - 7,025,889
Ownership stakes in other companies - 244,618
Vehicles - 24,588
Our industry-leading program for select corporate travel partners represents our continued commitment to operational performance excellence throughout the entire travel process. In 2017, United added an environmental commitment that we’ll have a lower gross carbon footprint than American and Delta.
Through the Eco-Skies® CarbonChoice program, United offers customers and businesses the opportunity to purchase carbon offsets to reduce the carbon footprint associated with their air travel and cargo shipments.
Every year, we report on our carbon emissions, local air quality, waste management, water and energy consumption and more. See the table below for our latest data.
| 2019 in metric tons CO2e | 2018 in metric tons CO2e |
2017 in metric tons CO2e |
2016 in metric tons CO2e |
2015 in metric tons CO2e |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct (Scope 1) emissions | 34,406,941 | 33,268,228 | 32,429,263 | 31,447,052 | 31,446,166 |
| Mainline aircraft (jet fuel) | 34,263,909 | 33,131,326 | 32,279,499 | 31,293,139 | 31,279,288 |
| Mainline aircraft (sustainable aviation fuel savings)1 | (6,850) | (3,776) | (5,836) | 0 | 0 |
| Mainline vehicles (diesel, gasoline, CNG, LPG)2 | 65,161 | 52,095 | 69,104 | 78,196 | 78,315 |
| Facilities (natural gas combustion, engine test cells) | 80,573 | 84,804 | 83,100 | 72,486 | 88,563 |
| Dry ice from catering | 4,147 | 3,779 | 3,397 | 3,231 | Not reported |
Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Direct (Scope 1) emissions
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2019 in metric tons CO2e
| 2019 in metric tons CO2e | 2018 in metric tons CO2e | 2017 in metric tons CO2e |
2016 in metric tons CO2e |
2015 in metric tons CO2e |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indirect (Scope 2) emissions | 189,682 | 171,731 | 331,527 | 291,543 | 283,499 |
| Electricity consumption (location-based) | 201,690 | 193,476 | 323,889 | 291,543 | 283,499 |
| Electricity consumption (market-based) | 189,682 | 171,731 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Steam consumption | 0 | 0 | 7,637 | Not reported | Not reported |
Indirect (Scope 2) emissions
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2018 in metric tons CO2e
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2018 in metric tons CO2e
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2018 in metric tons CO2e
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2018 in metric tons CO2e
| 2019 in metric tons CO2e | 2018 in metric tons CO2e | 2017 in metric tons CO2e |
2016 in metric tons CO2e |
2015 in metric tons CO2e |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Indirect (Scope 3) emissions | 7,471,298 | 6,863,496 | 6,079,488 | 6,268,793 | 6,474,314 |
| Regional aircraft and bus-operated flights (jet fuel) | 7,025,889 | 6,669,047 | 5,977,955 | 6,157,267 | 6,472,504 |
| Regional vehicles (diesel, gasoline, CNG, LPG)2 | 24,588 | 21,597 | 1,784 | 1,847 | 1,809 |
| Ownership stakes in other companies | 244,618 | 172,851 | 99,750 | 109,678 | Not reported |
| Employee commuting | 176,205 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
Other Indirect (Scope 3) emissions
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2018 in metric tons CO2e
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2018 in metric tons CO2e
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2018 in metric tons CO2e
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2018 in metric tons CO2e
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2018 in metric tons CO2e
| 2019 in metric tons CO2e | 2018 in metric tons CO2e | 2017 in metric tons CO2e |
2016 in metric tons CO2e |
2015 in metric tons CO2e |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total GHG emissions | 42,067,921 | 40,303,454 | 38,840,278 | 38,007,388 | 38,203,979 |
| Progress vs. 2050 goal to reduce GHG emissions 50% vs. 2005 | 0.8% | 5.0% | 8.5% | 10.4% | 10.0% |
Total GHG emissions
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2018 in metric tons CO2e
2019 in metric tons CO2e
2018 in metric tons CO2e
| 2019 tons | 2018 tons | 2017 tons |
2016 tons |
2015 tons |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOx emissions | 15,166 | 14,720 | 14,143 | 16,823 | 11,988 |
| SO2 emissions | 1,473 | 1,426 | 1,366 | 1,597 | 1,172 |
| CO emissions | 8,363 | 8,010 | 7,478 | 9,058 | 6,370 |
Local air quality
2019 tons
2018 tons
2019 tons
2018 tons
2019 tons
2018 tons
| 2019 metric tons | 2018 metric tons |
2017 metric tons |
2016 metric tons |
2015 metric tons |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waste — total | 53,832 | 61,226 | 63,986 | 41,786 | 43,756 |
| Hazardous and non-hazardous waste generation | 26,621 | 28,075 | 36,874 | 16,729 | Not reported |
| Catering — Municipal waste | 27,210 | 33,151 | 27,112 | 25,057 | Not reported |
| Hazardous | Moved to new category | Moved to new category | Moved to new category | Moved to new category | 2,565 |
| Non-hazardous/other waste | Moved to new category | Moved to new category | Moved to new category | Moved to new category | 41,191 |
| Recycling — total | 8,332 | 9,318 | 10,307 | 7,302 | 14,942 |
| Non-Catering — recycled | 4,489 | 5,046 | 6,618 | 4,093 | 12,840 |
| Catering — recycled | 3,843 | 4,272 | 3,689 | 3,209 | 2,102 |
Waste management
2019 metric tons
2019 metric tons
2019 metric tons
2019 metric tons
2019 metric tons
2019 metric tons
2019 metric tons
2019 metric tons
| 2019 millions of gallons | 2018 millions of gallons | 2017 millions of gallons |
2016 millions of gallons |
2015 millions of gallons |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billed water consumption5 | 521 | 532 | 493 | 453 | 343 |
Water consumption
2019 millions of gallons
2018 millions of gallons
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
2016 |
2015 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional fuel - Mainline aircraft (gallons – millions) | 3,562 | 3,445 | 3,355 | 3,260 | 3,216 |
| Sustainable aviation fuel - Mainline aircraft (gallons – millions) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Conventional fuel - Regional aircraft (gallons – millions) | 729 | 691 | 621 | 643 | 670 |
| Aircraft (Mainline jet fuel - gallons - millions) | Moved to new category | Moved to new category | Moved to new category | Moved to new category | 3,216 |
| Electricity (MWh) | 489,197 | 459,057 | 734,864 | 616,396 | 561,586 |
| Natural gas (MM BTUs) | 1,432,250 | 1,541,368 | 1,475,467 | 1,279,545 | 1,579,085 |
Energy consumption
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
2016 |
2015 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue ton-miles (RTMs — millions) | 26,672 | 25,949 | 24,796 | 23,540 | 23,133 |
| Metric tons CO2e /1,000 RTMs3 | 1.333 | 1.289 | 1.321 | 1.348 | 1.372 |
| Available seat-miles (ASMs – millions) | 284,999 | 275,262 | 262,386 | 253,590 | 250,004 |
| Metric tons CO2e /1,000 ASMs4 | 151.2 | 145.7 | 147.6 | 149.4 | 152.8 |
Other
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
1United's sustainable aviation fuel in 2017 was comparable to 2016, but no savings were claimed as United's World Energy supplier achieved certification for their lifecycle emissions reduction
2United changed to a more straightforward methodology to determine GHG emissions from GSE starting in 2018, but has not restated prior years; this change re-allocated GHG emissions between Mainline and Regional GSE
3Scope 1 + 2 emissions/Mainline RTMs; metric used for tracking progress against industry goal of 1.5%/year efficiency improvement
4Scope 1 + 2 + 3 Regional emissions/Mainline + Regional ASMs; metric used for tracking progress against Global Performance Commitment
5Does not account for all United locations or locations shared with other companies (e.g., airport terminals) and as a result may change considerably from year to year
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