If you’re looking for a trendy new bag, you might find it in an unexpected place: United Airlines. One of the employees of the world’s third-largest airline recently launched an exciting, eco-friendly project: turning airline trash into functional fashion items.
what’s happening?
Safety regulations require airlines to carry life jackets for every passenger on every flight, and United Airlines says the vests last for eight to 10 years.
Not having to use these life jackets is obviously a good thing for passengers and airlines, but it also means that most of them end up being thrown away: All 19,000 plastic life jackets sent to landfills each year on United Airlines’ 737s alone (not including those for crew members or infants).
One environmentally conscious employee knew there had to be a better way.
“While disposing of expired life jackets at IAD, [Washington Dulles International Airport]”We wanted to find a more creative solution to keep this material out of landfills,” said Erin Taylor, United Airlines’ environmental affairs manager. “Thankfully, we were able to connect with a company that upcycles life jacket materials (which would normally be thrown away) into fun, practical products.”
The company is Bag To Life (B2L), a German manufacturer that transforms discarded life vests into fun accessories. “Upcycling is our passion,” the B2L website states. “From morning until night, we work on product innovations that delight our customers and enrich their everyday lives, both visually and functionally.”
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B2L’s selection includes casual beach bags, large cargo backpacks, trendy packing sets, and if you really want to travel full circle, you can even bring a recycled life jacket onto your next flight as carry-on luggage.
Why is the United x Bag To Life partnership important?
United says that their first partnership in 2023 not only produced a slew of trendy tote bags, but also diverted 900 pounds of waste from landfills. United and B2L have renewed their partnership for 2024, doubling the inventory from the first round.
Every pound of material that doesn’t end up in a landfill saves space and reduces the methane gas released by decomposing trash, which is one of the main causes of global warming and contributes to extreme weather events around the world.
Not only are United x B2L upcycling projects good for the environment and the economy, they also produce eye-catching products that people will talk about.
“We hope this project will spark an ongoing discussion about waste disposal and other potential upcycling opportunities,” Taylor said.
What is United’s overall sustainability plan?
The B2L partnership isn’t the only way United is doing good for the environment: United was the first airline in the world to commit to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 without relying on carbon offsets.
To achieve this, the airline has pledged to work with partners on using more efficient aircraft (reducing fuel needed), expanding the switch to sustainable aviation fuels, reducing polluting activities on the ground (such as switching to electric “super tugs” that shuttle aircraft on runways), and other unique solutions (such as joining forces to reduce the impact of contrails).
Bottom line: United Airlines and B2L’s life jacket upcycling initiative fits squarely into that game plan.
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