Emirates Upscale 50,000 Kg of Cabin Interior Waste into Beautiful Bags

DUBAI- On March 27, 2025, Emirates (EK) announced the successful distribution of 700 handmade schoolbags to young students across India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

These unique backpacks were created from upcycled aircraft interior materials as part of the airline’s Aircrafted KIDS initiative. The project extends Emirates’ commitment to supporting children’s education while making meaningful connections in communities where the airline operates.

Photo- Emirates

Emirates Aircrafted KIDS Initiative

The Asia distribution follows a previous phase where 1,300 bags were delivered across Africa. In India, Emirates (EK) collaborated with Smile Foundation India, which provides education, healthcare, and livelihood programs to children aged 6-14 years.

The airline partnered with three sister organisations in Bangladesh. Those are- Kanan, Thikana (Shelter Home), and Ahsania Mission Shishu Nagari, which offer shelter and educational support for women and children in Dhaka.

In Pakistan, Emirates (EK) worked with the SOS Children’s Villages, an organisation creating nurturing spaces for financially disadvantaged youth to continue their education.

Egypt will be the next destination for the Aircrafted KIDS schoolbags. Additional locations in the Middle East and North Africa region are planned for future distributions.

Locals Involvement

Emirates (EK) representatives from local offices in each country participated directly in the initiative. Staff members helped pack the bags and distribute them to recipient organisations, creating personal connections with these community-focused institutions.

The backpacks contained essential school supplies, including stationery, calculators, and books that can be shared throughout schools.

Photo- Emirates

Creation Process

The backpacks originated from Emirates’ environmental strategy to repurpose over 50,000 kilograms of materials from 205 aircraft undergoing cabin interior renovations. A dedicated team at Emirates Engineering developed the concept of creating sturdy backpacks from these materials.

The Economy Class seat fabric, consisting of 95% wool and 5% nylon sourced from Germany and Ireland, proved ideal for upcycling due to its durability and non-flammable properties.

14 Engineering Maintenance Assistants designed and tailored various backpack styles for different age groups in a dedicated Emirates (EK) workshop. The production process involved professional laundering of fabrics, hand cleaning, leather conditioning for accents, and thorough disinfection before sewing. New linings, functional zippers, and adjustable straps were added to ensure comfort and safety. The finished products were packed in specially branded ‘Aircrafted KIDS’ boxes for shipment.

Photo- Emirates

Company-Wide Collaboration

The initiative united multiple Emirates departments. The Corporate Communications, Marketing & Brand team identified recipient organisations and determined their specific needs.

Emirates SkyCargo and dnata Logistics handled transportation across continents. They demonstrated how the project connected employees throughout the company toward a meaningful goal.

Photo- Emirates

Retail Collection for Public

Emirates (EK) fans can participate in this community initiative by purchasing limited-edition luggage from the upcoming second phase of the Aircrafted by Emirates retail collection.

Like the first collection, which sold out quickly, proceeds after costs will benefit the Emirates Airline Foundation, which supports humanitarian projects worldwide. Customers can also make direct donations to the Foundation anytime to help children in need.

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