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Upcycle materials from indoor advertising

Indoor advertising is big business for airports. However, the high turnover of marketing campaigns, coupled with the large physical scale of indoor advertising installations, can generate large volumes of waste, much of which may not be easily recycled due to the mixed contents of materials used. With an increased focus on achieving high diversion rates for airport waste, airports and airlines are looking for creative ways to manage their complex waste streams. “Upcycling” is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless and/or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value. A common example of upcycling is the use of plastic milk bottles as composite material for park benches and playground equipment. Similarly, wood reclaimed from demolition projects of all kinds is used in the creation of high-end furniture, and metal from retired aircraft is transformed into artwork. Upcycling of materials from indoor advertising and many other activities is a practical and cost-effective way to achieve improved waste diversion rates and educate consumers about sustainability.


Practice Information

Capital Cost: Marginal Cost (<$5,000 US)
O&M Cost: Marginal or Cost Savings (<$5,000 US)
Payback Period: Immediate (0 – 2 years)
Staffing Requirements: Moderate (50 – 200 hours per month)
Reportability of Metrics: Qualitative metric
Maturity of Practice: Trial tested
Energy Reduction: No effect on energy consumption
Environmental Benefits: Low environmental benefit
Social Benefits: Moderate social benefit

Airport Characteristics





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Case Studies

11/2/2015

United Airlines

In 2013, United Airlines introduced a new “fly the friendly skies” advertising campaign. Chicago O’Hare airport placed more than 20 fabric banner advertisements in support of this campaign, each of which was 14 feet high by seven feet wide, on double sided fabric printed with specially commissioned aerial photographs of United’s hub airports. In early 2015, the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) modified the allowable size of these advertising units which rendered these hanging banners obsolete. The United Eco-Skies team used this opportunity to upcycle this material with the design help of Columbia College Chicago and fabrication by Re:new, a non-profit, Chicago area organization that employs women refugees living in the U.S. Since 2011, more than 120 refugee women have received training or employment at Re:new. Local refugee artisans are trained to create and sew beautiful handmade products in an encouraging environment that allows the women an opportunity to flourish in a safe, nurturing and empowering community. A line of upcycled travel bags were created through a three-day course and contest by Columbia College Chicago’s Fashion Studies program. The guidelines for the contest were as follows: 1. The travel bag should be designed for a day/overnight trip based on one of the following themes. a. Theme 1 – Technically-speaking: The bag should carry all of the essential gadgets and gear needed to survive in the urban jungle – tablet, phone, chargers, adapters, camera, and a change of clothes for the flight home. b. Theme 2 – Off the beaten path: Carry all of the essentials needed for a hike or trail run just outside of town – water bottle, phone/GPS, camera, sunglasses, running shoes – and of course, tomorrow’s outfit. 2. The bag must fit under an airplane seat and the dimensions must not exceed 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm). 3. It should be economical to make yet look good – retail cost between $100-200 4. It should be durable and wearable. 5. It must include upcycled fabrics from United’s “fly the friendly skies” advertising campaign. The result of this effort was a line of approximately 100 high-end, upcycled travel bags. The winning designs were fabricated by RE:NEW and sold online by United. The bags sold out almost immediately.


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