Page 35 - Aircraft Interiors Today - June - July 2024 Issue

SUSTAINABILITY

Aircrafted KIDS

by Emirates

mirates is readying Emirates’ teams spent
to repurpose over weeks researching bag
50,000 kilograms of styles, ensuring the bags
Ematerial from its 191 are safe and comfortable for
aircraft undergoing a cabin children to use and fit for
interior refresh. Emirates will purpose. Across all the indi-
give new life to the materials vidual designs, all fabrics are
and is personally produc- freshly laundered in a facility,
ing thousands of handmade then further deep cleaned by
children’s backpacks and hand, leather-conditioned for
schoolbags, to be donated the leather accents featured
to community schools and on some bags, and thorough-
organisations supporting ly disinfected before being
early education across Africa sewn into unique pieces.
and Asia this year. Brand new lining is added to
To minimise waste, Emir- the bags, along with func- help with the project, there aluminium, and wool have
ates’ Engineering team tional zippers and adjustable is a huge appetite to con- already been repurposed.
tasked themselves to find a straps. The result is a range tribute and support entities The Aircrafted by Emirates
way to repurpose the fabrics of sturdy, quality bags which in need. It’s also a testament range is a limited-edition
from the Economy Class Emirates will make-to-order to Emirates’ commitment to capsule collection of lug-
seats of 22 Airbus A380 for worthy causes across constantly evolve our environ- gage launched in November
aircraft that have completed Africa and Asia. mental efforts and examine all 2023 and designed in-house
the retrofit process. From Emirates produces the aspects of our products and by Emirates Engineering,
these aircraft, 5,205 kilo- backpacks by hand in the supply chains. For this project, which sold out in a matter
grams of scrap materials Emirates Engineering work- our aim is to turn what would of weeks. Proceeds from
were recovered, including shop where a team of tailors have been waste, into prized the first sale of the not-for-
seat fabric of 95% wool and - officially titled as Engineer- possessions.’ profit collection Aircrafted by
5% nylon composition with a ing Maintenance Assistants, The world’s largest ever Emirates amounted to more
flat weave structure, sourced are responsible for assem- known retrofit project is a than 70,000 AED, and after
from Germany and Ireland. bling and stitching the bags. multibillion-dollar invest- minimal operational cost
The materials were identi- Their roles normally involve ment from Emirates, which deductions, were donated
fied as ideal for upcycling fixing any tears in the interi- kicked off in August 2022 to Emirates Airline Founda-
due to their durability and ors of Emirates’ vast aircraft with the intention of fully tion supporting humanitarian
non-flammable nature, and a fleet, but now many of these re-fitting 191 aircraft and projects around the world.
decision was made to make tailors are also putting their elevating customer experi- Managed entirely by Emir-
high quality backpacks for skills towards the production ence. This includes 110 ates’ Engineering team, the
children in need. of schoolbags for students Airbus A380s and 81 Boeing retrofit is a considerable
In the workshop at Emir- across Emirates’ network. 777 aircraft, which together project that will take years to
ates Engineering, a dedicat- Ahmed Safa, Emirates’ Divi- have the potential to provide complete and provide mul-
ed team of tailors creatively sional Senior Vice President up to 50,000 kilograms of tiple opportunities for upcy-
designed a whole range of for Engineering, said: “We waste fabrics. As and when cling. This will see 21,814
backpacks, for children of are so proud of our people at the aircraft are furnished Economy Seats installed,
different ages and worked Emirates and their commit- with new fabrics, there is 8,104 brand new Premium
with the Emirates Corporate ment to this initiative. Count- also scope to recover the Economy seats installed,
Communications, Market- less hours have been invested excess ‘cut off’ materials for 1,894 First Class suites
ing & Brand team to identify into making these bags for repurposing and upcycling. refurbished, over 11,182
charitable entities, schools, children; it’s a true passion From the 22 Airbus A380 new generation Business
orphanages, and founda- project for our diligent team. aircraft that have been com- Class seats installed, as well
tions, where the bags are We’ve even had volunteers pletely retrofitted, materi- as the opportunity for more
set to be distributed in the within the larger company als from First and Business creative upcycling initiatives
coming months. come forward and offer to Class cabins such as leather, to be launched.

www.aircraftinteriorstoday.com June / July 2024 35