Asiana takes to 'upcycling' old uniforms

Asiana Airlines flight attendants show tablet sleeves made from used uniforms. [ASIANA AIRLINES]

Asiana Airlines is upcycling staff uniforms into tablet computer sleeves and planning to introduce more eco-friendly products.

The carrier announced Monday it made 11-inch tablet sleeves out of used uniforms that would have been thrown away. The airline throws out about 30,000 uniforms from flight attendants, maintenance workers and airport staff each year.

The tablet sleeves aren’t available for sale, but will be given as prizes to customers and Asiana Airlines employees.

The company could sell them in the future if the sleeves prove popular.

“We came up with the idea to make upcycled products because using materials that are thrown out is good for the environment,” said Choi Suk-byung, head of Asiana Airlines’ ESG [environmental, social and governance] taskforce. “We also plan on using them as an opportunity to make our employees participate in environmental, social and governance management.”

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]