Korean Air Is Turning Old Uniforms Into Upcycled First Aid Kits

The Seoul-based carrier is pursuing new avenues in its steps toward sustainability targets.

Korean Air has donated first aid kits manufactured from upcycled aircrew uniforms to two community groups in Seoul. The move forms part of the airline's efforts to become a more sustainable company and benefit local projects.

Crew uniforms returned to airlines at the end of their useful lives have traditionally been discarded and destroyed. This primarily prevents them from falling into the wrong hands, posing a potential security risk.

However, one major carrier has found a far more beneficial use for these pre-owned uniforms by giving them a second life as an upcycled first aid pouch donated to the local community.

Korean Air, the Seoul-based national carrier of South Korea, recently created and donated 500 first aid pouches to two beneficiaries in communities close to the airline's headquarters. Using upcycled pilot and cabin crew uniforms no longer in use, the kits were donated to the Seoul Gangseo Senior Welfare Center and Incheon Yongyu Elementary School.

The first aid kits comprised essential medicine funded by airline employees' donations. Korean Air employees donated around KRW 5 million (US$3,800) to purchase various first-aid medications to be included in the kits. These medicines had fever-reducing and cold remedy medicines.

Forming part of the airline's ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) activities, this latest move comes as Korean Air has initiated various upcycling projects over recent months.

In February of this year, the airline released a limited number of eco-friendly cosmetic pouches made from retired cabin life vests. The proceeds from the "life vest" cosmetic pouch sales were to be donated to a global environmental organization.

The upcycled pouches were produced in collaboration with Korean beauty brand "107," renowned for its natural skin care products and eco-friendly holistic approach to beauty. It featured six different travel-size skincare essentials.

Not only have the pouches been made from retired life vests, but the manufacturing processes were carried out to minimize pollution and carbon emissions. The pouches were manufactured at a factory using solar power, and eco-friendly, biodegradable detergents were used to wash the life vests.

A limited number of 4,000 upcycled cosmetic pouches were produced and made available for purchase through Korean Air's e-Skyshop portal.

Keep up with Simple Flying for more airline news from the Asia-Pacific region.

Then, in May, the company released upcycled name tags and golf ball markers upcycled from a retired Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. This was the airline's third time using retired aircraft parts to produce resale items.

The name tags and golf ball markers were made using the skin of a dismantled Boeing 777-200ER with the registration number HL7715. After operating 11,274 flights to 95 cities worldwide, the aircraft retired with its last flight from San Francisco to Seoul Incheon in March 2020.

Previously, Korean Air has donated hot water bottle covers made using inflight blankets to community neighbors in need.

With this latest venture, Korean Air continues to develop and showcase unique and original eco-friendly products while donating upcycled useful items to local worthy causes, where appropriate.

That said, it is not just Korean Air that is involved in upcycling uniforms, as local neighbor Asiana Airlines has also been in on the act. Last year, the carrier announced it would be upcycling staff uniforms into 11-inch tablet computer sleeves.

Asiana currently disposes of about 30,000 uniforms annually from flight attendants, maintenance workers, and airport staff. However, rather than incinerating these uniforms, the airline sourced a manufacturer that could transform the used uniforms into tablet sleeves.

While the tablet sleeves were not made available for sale to the general public, they were given as prizes to valued customers and Asiana Airlines employees, according to a company statement.

What do you think about these efforts to upcycle airline uniforms? What else would you like to see airlines transform into practical, everyday items? Let us know in the comments.

Journalist - Working for several airlines & Airbus, Luke gained a comprehensive knowledge of the commercial aviation industry, before retraining as a lawyer specializing in aviation. A qualified private pilot, Luke also helps to keep one of the world's last WWII Catalina flying boats airworthy. Based in Cambridge, UK.