Lufthansa Group uses innovative AI-supported ‘Tray Tracker’ to reduce food waste

The following article was published by Future Travel Experience

Lufthansa Group has developed an innovative, AI-supported solution – the ‘Tray Tracker’ – to measure and reduce onboard meal returns. The mobile tech scans meal returns from the onboard catering of flights.

Lufthansa Group has developed an innovative, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-supported solution – the ‘Tray Tracker’ – to measure and reduce onboard meal returns. The mobile technology scans meal returns from the onboard catering of flights at the dishwashing line. AI recognises whether a meal has been partially eaten, completely eaten, or left untouched. The flight route, travel class, and meal concept are also included in the analysis. The insights gained will enable optimised portion sizes and meal selection in the future. In addition, the ‘Tray Tracker’ will contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions in the future, as avoiding overload reduces the total weight. At the same time, less food is transported, used, and disposed of.

Lufthansa has been using the innovation at its Frankfurt site for almost a year. The AI has also recently started scanning trays in Munich. In the future, the ‘Tray Tracker’ is also set to be used at other Lufthansa Group locations and airlines. The innovative mobile device was developed by the Lufthansa Group Digital Catering Analytics Team in cooperation with Lufthansa Group subsidiary zeroG.

Another Machine Learning-based project by the Lufthansa Group to prevent food waste is called ‘Pendle’. Launched by the Lufthansa Innovation Hub in 2024, the initiative uses algorithms that analyse data points such as flight duration, flight route, and previous demand to optimise loading. Long-term, the aim is to link the two projects.

Lufthansa Group is pursuing various measures and projects to reduce food waste onboard as much as possible and optimise loading. Passengers on Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and SWISS short- and medium-haul flights can pre-order their preferred meal and, with the ‘to go’ offer, purchase all fresh products at a reduced price on the last flight of the day. Premium class passengers on intercontinental flights with these airlines can select their main course before departure from the hubs. This measure also helps to reduce food waste caused by overloading. In addition, the focus is on switching from single-use plastic and aluminium to more sustainable alternatives.

Hear more from Lufthansa Group at the co-located APEX FTE EMEA and APEX FTE Ancillary & Retailing events, taking place in Dublin – the ‘Silicon Valley of Europe’ – on 10-12 June 2025. Jost Daft, Head of Order Transformation, Lufthansa Group, is participating in a session focused on ‘Advanced approaches to Modern Airline Retailing and Offer & Order management’. Register for APEX FTE EMEA and APEX FTE Ancillary & Retailing – one registration provides access to both events >>

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Lufthansa Group uses innovative AI-supported ‘Tray Tracker’ to reduce food waste