Emirates Airline has given a broad hint that its new ‘Sustainable Blanket Programme’ will help to recover 88 million plastic bottles from landfills by the end of 2019.
The total weight of the recovered plastic bottles, according to the airline is equivalent to the weight of 44 A380 aircraft.
The Dubai based airline, last week introduced new ‘sustainable blankets’ made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. The ‘Sustainable Blanket Programme’ forms part of Emirates’ continued commitment to product innovation and sustainability.
Before the introduction of the smart blankets, Emirates already runs a green programme on board. This includes the recycling of aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles. Clean paper products such as newspapers, magazines and card board cartons are also recycled, to name but a few.
The blankets are made using ecoTHREAD patented technology, which converts the plastic bottles into plastic chips, later into yarn and finally woven into fleecy blankets- now available in the Economy Class on all long-haul Emirates flights.
The manufacturing process is energy efficient because it cuts emissions by 70%, thanks to the use of recycled plastic. The fleecy blanket initiative is currently the largest ‘sustainable blanket programme’ on board in the airline industry.
Low Plastic recycling rate around the world has turned landfills and the oceans into receptacles for plastic bottle litter. This takes forever (700years) to start decomposing.
By Dela Ahiawor, African Eye Report
Follow me on twitter @DAhiawor
