Norwegian has unveiled a new initiative to upcycle its old uniforms into bags which will be sold for charity.
The low-cost carrier is set to replace its uniforms next year, and has launched pilot project Still Travelling with Norwegian in partnership with Norway-based social entreprise Sisters in Business, which creates jobs for immigrant women through local textile production.
Old uniforms will be upcycled into a range of products, starting with a chequered toiletry bag and a silk clutch bag.
They will then be sold on selected short-haul flights from Oslo, with profits supporting children’s charity Unicef.
Other airlines to have launched similar initiatives include Delta, which has been upcycling old uniforms and seats as travel accessories, and Lufthansa, which launched a collection of furniture, accessories and sculptures made from a decommissioned A340-600.
Commenting on the news Norwegian’s head of sustainability, Anders Fagernaes said:
“If the project is a success, we can save thousands of items from being wasted. We all have a responsibility to find solutions that minimise the environmental impact from our textile use.
“With this project, Norwegian, Unicef Norway and Sisters in Business are helping to provide a sustainable solution to these problems – and by buying these products onboard, passengers will also be doing something positive for the environment, as well as helping children and contributing to job creation.”
