Emirates’ new blanket is made entirely from recycled PET bottles. Picture: Emirates.
Middle-Eastern airline Emirates has introduced new sustainable blankets made from 100% recycled plastic PET bottles. EcoTHREAD patented technology has been used to create the new environmentally-friendly product, with 28 recycled plastic bottles comprising one blanket.
How the blankets are made
With the latest innovation, the bottles are recycled into plastic chips before being turned into yarn, creating a polar fleece material. The fine thread is then woven into soft blankets.
Emirates said the blankets were designed in partnership with Buzz, the world’s leading inflight product specialists, and are a part of Emirates’ continued commitment to product innovation and sustainability.
Emirates’ green programme
Emirates already runs a green programme on board which sees the recycling of aluminium cans, plastic and glass bottles, and clean paper products such as newspapers, magazines and cardboard cartons where possible. By the end of 2019, Emirates ecoTHREAD blankets would have recycled 88 million plastic bottles from landfills. This is equivalent to the weight of 44 A380 aircrafts, and will reduce energy emissions by 70%. Their airline said that this initiative makes it the largest sustainable blanket programme in the airline industry and is available in the airline’s economy class.