In a bid to promote environmental sustainability, United Airlines has teamed up with German upcycling company, B2L or ‘Bag 2 Life’, to convert expired life jackets into trendy bags. This initiative has successfully diverted 900 pounds of waste from landfills in its first year.
Life jackets placed under airplane seats are replaced every eight to ten years as per unified aviation safety regulations. Although these safety devices are infrequently used, they contribute to a significant volume of waste. For instance, United Airlines’ Boeing 737 fleet alone generates over 19,000 expired jackets annually.
The collaboration between United Airlines and B2L aims to reduce this waste and the airline’s carbon footprint. The expired life jackets are upcycled into stylish, travel-themed bags suitable for various uses including laundry, laptops, beach trips, and backpacks.
Erin Taylor, an environmental affairs manager at United, initiated this project as a creative solution to divert material from landfills. She stated, “I wanted to find a more creative solution to divert this material from landfill. Thankfully I was able to connect with a company that upcycles the life vest material (typically thrown away), into fun and practical products.”
The effort has been met with positive reviews and success, leading to a contract renewal for B2L for a second year with double the volume. However, despite their eco-friendly nature and unique design, the upcycled bags come with a hefty price tag, with shoulder bags costing over $100 and small backpacks priced at $177.89.
The upcycling process not only diverts waste from landfills but also prevents the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is emitted when life jackets decompose underground over a long period.
This initiative is not alone in its pursuit of upcycling. For instance, in Russia, mountains of garbage are being converted into fashionable accessories. In Australia, a contest was held to ‘upcycle a skyscraper’, saving tons of CO2 instead of demolishing the country’s tallest building.
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Source: Good News Network
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