Finnair is giving old uniforms a new lease of life by both recycling and upcycling the clothing.
All uniform parts that remain in good condition are being refurbished so they can be reused by employees, while worn-out uniforms are being transformed by Finnish work-clothing manufacturer Image Wear into garden furniture such as pots, tables and benches.
The manufacturer is combining shredded textiles with recycled plastic particles to create new composite materials, which are then used to create the hard-wearing outdoor items. These products are largely used for commercial schemes, but readers can find out more about the company at its website.
Merja Lindberg, Finnair’s uniform manager, said:
“Finnair takes sustainability seriously and we make sure our stylish high-quality crew uniforms are long-lasting and able to be refreshed and reused for years to come.”
Kati Tukiainen, Image Wear’s responsibility manager, added:
“Composite products are durable – their estimated lifespan is around 50 years, and at the end of their lifecycle, they can still be recycled into new products. In this way, worn-out work clothes do not end up as waste, but continue their life in a new form”.
The current cabin crew uniform, introduced in 2011, was designed by Ritva-Liisa Pohjalainen and features a combination of dark blue and white clothing.
Passengers can explore a special display of Finnair uniforms from the airline’s last 100 years at Helsinki airport, as part of its centenary celebrations.
