Allan Gerlat, News Editor

January 24, 2012

1 Min Read
Southwest Making its Plane Interiors More Sustainable

Southwest Airlines is retrofitting its airplane fleet to include a variety of sustainable products.

It is part of a $60 million redesign of its fleet’s interior, called Evolve, that is to begin and March and be completed in 2013, the Dallas-based Southwest said in a news release.

The improvements include new seats made from eco-friendly products that are six pounds lighter per seat and more durable, which Southwest said should save $10 million annually in fuel savings and longer product life. The seat covers use an environmentally friendly alternative to leather that is lower in cost. The airline reused the existing seat frames.

The interior carpet, made in a closed-loop recycled process, will be applied in squares to reduce the need for total replacement. The airline switched from plastic to a recyclable aluminum, which will increase durability and reduce waste on the rub strips, tray table latches and seat arm trim pieces. Southwest also made changes in the life vest pouch and wind screen to make them more environmentally friendly and durable.

For an interactive tour of the new interior, click here.

 

About the Author(s)

Allan Gerlat

News Editor, Waste360

Allan Gerlat joined the Waste360 staff in September 2011 as news editor. He was the editor of Waste & Recycling News for the first 16 years of its history, and under his guidance the publication won 27 national and regional awards.

Before Waste & Recycling News, Allan worked at another Crain Communications publication, Rubber & Plastics News, which covers rubber product manufacturing. He began with the publication as associate editor and eventually became managing editor, a position he held for nine years.

Allan is a graduate of Ohio University, where he earned a BS in journalism. He is based in Sagamore Hills, in northeast Ohio.

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