Cargolux Airlines has signed an agreement with German company Trinkaus-Solutions to use its environmentally friendly squAIR-timber product as a replacement for wooden pallets.

According to Cargolux, it is the first airline in the world to choose the lightweight material and is already using it for all pharma shipments from Luxembourg.

“Cargolux is proud to be at the forefront of developments again with Trinkaus-Solutions’ innovative products,” said Lars Syberg, EVP of global logistics. “The use of modern, environmentally conscious tools in air cargo underlines our standing as a green cargo carrier at a time when many of our customers put more emphasis on working with a partner who is aware of its responsibility towards the world we live in. In addition, Trinkaus-Solutions provides us with products that make Cargolux more efficient and faster with the added advantage of lower costs. It’s an all-round winner for us.”

The squAIR-timber product is made only of raw material from sustainable sources and is resilient and moisture-resistant because of a cold glue craftliner connection. The surface is finished with a silicone paper coating.

The material is 80% lighter than wood, at 1.2kg/m, and is 100% recyclable. A squAIR-timber cover plate has a load capacity of up to 1.2 tonnes while the long beam-like skids have a load capacity of up to 10 tonnes.

The adoption of the new material could potentially reduce fuel consumption by approximately 1,200 tonnes per year, according to Cargolux.