Expired Life Jackets Recycled
United Airlines has partnered with the German upcycling company B2L to repurpose 900 pounds of expired life jackets into stylish bags. According to aviation safety regulations, life jackets on planes must be replaced every 8 to 10 years, resulting in United’s Boeing 737 fleet alone generating over 19,000 expired jackets annually.
The collaboration aims to reduce landfill waste and the airline’s carbon footprint by converting these jackets into various products such as laundry bags, laptop bags, beach bags, and backpacks. This initiative emerged when Erin Taylor, an environmental affairs manager at United, sought a more creative and sustainable solution for disposing of the expired jackets.
The first year of this partnership was successful, garnering positive reviews and leading to a contract renewal with increased production for the following year. If not upcycled, these life jackets would take centuries to decompose.