When United Airlines recently rolled out new Carhatt uniforms for its 28,000 Technical Operations, Ramp Service and Catering Operations employees, it had planned to turn old garments into carpet padding and insulation fibre.
But the coronavirus pandemic led to a change in tack, and the carrier has being working with upcycling partner Looptworks to produce 7,500 face coverings made from over 5,500kg of the old uniforms.
The masks have been distributed to frontline employees at San Francisco International airport and United’s Maintenance Base in the city, supplementing the supply of face coverings which the carrier already provides to employees and customers.