Virgin Atlantic has unveiled their new 100 per cent recycled material amenity kits after six months of research and design.
The kits, which have been designed for Upper Class and Premium Economy passengers, are made from recycled PET (rPET) material, a fabric produced from recycled plastic bottles. The airline estimates that it will use approximately 4 million bottles worth of rPET each year to produce its amenity kits (based on an estimated 3-4 bottles per Upper Class kit). Compared to nylon, rPET has a 90 per cent lower carbon footprint.
Passengers will be encouraged to take their amenity kit with them upon leaving a flight, as the kits can be repurposed as ebook reader or tablet covers, and Premium Economy kits can double as a travel wallet. Unused kits will be reused, and used contents will be recycled through MNH Sustainable Cabin Services -- a company that helped Virgin recondition and recycle nearly 700 tonnes of cabin waste in 2011.
"...[W]e are passionate as an airline about making sure everything we do is reviewed through a sustainability lens. These kits not only look great but also have better sustainability profile", said Paul Sands, Head of Product and Service for Virgin Atlantic.
Virgin's redesigned amenity kits come as part of its recent Change is in the Air sustainability programme.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.