Like every industry, the aviation sector produces a lot of waste and it’s not just your average plastic packaging, personal products or discarded food. Have you ever thought about what happens to an aeroplane at the end of its life or even staff uniforms? We’ve taken a look at some ideas from across the world to reduce waste created by airlines.
Transforming Uniforms Into Handbags
Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) has produced a range of bags made from old staff uniforms. ANA mechanics and maintenance crew wear light blue overalls made from a strong and highly-durable fabric and complete with multiple pockets – perfect for a bag.
Maintenance worker Takahashi Hideya came up with the idea to turn these unwanted clothes into something new. “The airline industry is under severe scrutiny over environmental issues. I suggested this because, as an employee, I want to deal with the problem head-on,” he explains.
As well as the overalls, ANA have begun recycling old life vests too. The ANA maintain crew consists of around 3,000 people and the airline previously disposed of around 300 pieces of workwear every year. And according to the Japanese Environment Ministry, only around one third of discarded clothes in Japan are recycled.
What Happens to Old Aeroplanes?
In Ivory Coast, entrepreneur Aziz Alibhai has bought a collection of 11 old aeroplanes and has big plans for them. “I would like to turn them into conference rooms, a restaurant and — why not? — luxury bedrooms,” he says. “We can modify them easily – the cabins have insulation and with a little air conditioning it could work very well.”