WINTER 2020
The world of traveller sustainability, hygiene & wellness
2020
The year that was WWW.AMENITIESMAGAZINE.COM
Tailor-made solutions. Endless possibilities. DISCOVER OUR AMENITY KIT OFFERING AT WWW.SPIRIANT.COM
Contents
In this issue... NEW ARRIVALS The latest industry news and products.
THE YEAR THAT WAS End of an era or Beginning of one?! It’s all on how we perceive situations.
COVID SAFETY INITIATIVES Cabin, Crew and Passenger protective equipment keeping them safe today and, in the future.
AN AMENITY KIT PROGRAMME FIRST
The wine bottle that it up to five times lighter than a glass bottle and friendlier to the planet.
SUSTAINABLE TEXTILES Why there isn’t just a single solution to single-use textiles.
A SQUEAKY CLEAN DENTAL ROUTINE
Amenities put Simon Ward a leading independent expert on onboard amenities in the spotlight.
THE EMOJI’S STRANGE POWER Pictures can say more than a thousand words as the brand takes to the skies.
PAPER V PLASTIC Comparing their green credentials.
THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS TRAVEL We take a look at the current impact and road ahead.
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Now is the time to ditch plastic toothbrushes.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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JetBlue new offering focuses on passenger health and wellness whilst onboard.
MEET THE FRUGAL BOTTLE
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37 40 43 46 Copyright © Avenel Investments. All right reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited. The title Amenities is published three times a year and is a trading division of Avenel Investments. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information is correct, neither the author nor publisher can be held responsible for inadvertent inaccuracies or omissions. The views of the writers in Amenities Magazine are not necessarily share by the publisher.
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The new Amenities Initiatives: raising awareness, acknowledging innovation and helping to restore passenger confidence. 2020 has challenged us to reinvent and focus our ability to adapt and innovate. Amenities Initiatives focuses on three key areas of change: Hygiene, Sustainability, and Wellbeing.
Enter your submission before 22nd December 2020 and take advantage of our Early Bird Entry Fee Offer of GBP ÂŁ95. After this date the entry fee is GBP ÂŁ180, the official closing date for entries in 31st January 2021.
To discover more about the Amenities Initiatives visit our website: www.amenitiesmagazine.com
From The Editor
Welcome As I sign off on our last issue of 2020 it is easy to reflect on what might have been, I’m sure that 2020 will be remembered as an annus horribilis for the global aviation industry! The pandemic has caused major job losses across our industry as airline’s were grounded and suppliers received cancelled orders. Both airlines and suppliers have had to transform themselves not just to survive but to ensure that they are well positioned for the future. Of course, PPE has been the buzz word this year however sustainability, hygiene, and wellness are also on everybody’s agenda going forward. We are seeing the green shoots of recovery, BA, AA and Oneworld recently launched a transatlantic COVID-19 testing trial with the aim to demonstrate that testing can remove the need for international passengers to quarantine on arrival. In the UK, the first consignment of the coronavirus vaccine has arrived, and Margaret Keenan enters the history books as the first person in the world to be given the Pfizer COVID-19 jab! We have also seen a number of new products launch this year from JetBlue having a complete refresh of their Mint business class and Air Astana’s new eco economy kits and also LATAM launching new onboard blankets with a biocidal protective shield.
AMENITIES IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY...
The airline industry also came together in October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Publisher Simon Ward
As we complete a fifth year as a publication, we have never been afraid to challenge the status quo, so we started a conversation with the industry about a new initiative that would focus on passenger Wellness, Sustainability and Hygiene (PPE) and following positive feedback we are proud to launch The Amenities Initiatives. Our mission is to raise awareness and acknowledge the numerous innovations for the future of flight helping to restore passenger confidence during 2021 which truly benefits us all. I have seen numerous references to “the new normal” to quote Forest Gump “What’s normal anyways?” Yes, we will witness change but as long as an industry we move and embrace this change I’m sure positive and better times will return.
Features Editor Hayley Hartland
Features Editor Lily-Fleur Bradbury
This just leaves me to say that my team and I wish all of you and your families a very healthy and prosperous New Year.
Editor in Chief Debra Bradbury-Ward Designer Alison Parsons
Published by Avenel Investments Limited. Registered address: 5 Castle Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1BH
Editorial: Debra / Lily-Fleur / Hayley @amenitiesmagazine.com Printed by Severn a multi-award winning environmental and ethical company AMENITIESMAGAZINE.COM
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New Arrivals
Economy Gets An Eco-overhaul Onboard Air Astana Partnered with Supplier AKService, Air Astana launches a new Economy Eco Initiative. Air Astana’s new Economy Eco concept kits reflect the airlines commitment to introducing more eco-friendly initiatives onboard with a number of the internal components such as the toothbrush, shoe horn, hair comb, and ballpoint pen all made from new biodegradable material based on wheat straw.
Albéa Does Sustainable Sophistication With Origins Skincare Brand Albéa, leading beauty packaging manufacturer, Origins, global skincare brand, announce their strategic partnership to bring an advanced recycled tube package to the market in 2021.
Presented in two design options, with a paper zip bag for inbound flights featuring a neck pillow, and a nonwoven shopping bag for outbound journeys featuring a shoe horn and hair comb, the two designs gift economy passengers with travel essentials needed for a restful flight, including cozy slippers.
As a pioneer in the development of sustainable packaging for beauty brands, Albéa will leverage its expertise in the use of advanced recycled resins to provide Origins with a high-performing tube composed of a certified polymer resin manufactured by SABIC’s revolutionary, certified circular polyethylene and polypropylene advanced recycling technology.
Last but not least, the overall design of the kit takes the shape of a cardboard phone holder that passengers can use for their own devices to enjoy great movies and audio selection with Air Astana’s onboard multimedia system during the flight, putting sustainability and functionality first.
Advanced recycling returns hard-torecycle plastics, otherwise destined for incineration or landfill, back to their basic building blocks. Once the plastic has been broken down to its molecular state, it is then used to create high-performance plastics akin to a virgin material. SABIC’s ground-
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breaking, certified circular polymer, part of its TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio of circular solutions, uses this technology which is capable of continually converting plastics back to the original polymer. Through the use of this innovative recycling technology, Albéa, Origins, ELC and SABIC are helping to accelerate the innovation across the value chain toward the goal of a circular plastic economy. Committed to environmental protection and determined to manufacture increasingly responsible packaging, Albéa was the first cosmetics packaging manufacturer to sign the Ellen McArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment in October 2018. This signature commits Albéa to ensure that 100% of its packaging is recyclable or reusable by 2025, and to incorporate 10% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) resins across its portfolio.
New Arrivals
Tuft & Needle Bedding onboard Tuft & Needle have teamed up with Jet Blue to create a new line of bedding for their relaunched Mint Business Class offerings. Tuft & Needle are an American mattress and bedding brand, founded in 2012 who specialise in high quality products, manufactured using well sourced materials made in the USA.
and is over-sized for added comfort regardless of passenger size. It has also been designed with comfort onboard in mind. It can be folded at the bottom to create a warm foot pocket, and it can also be snapped together and worn as a shawl whilst watching TV or sitting in an upright position in a plane seat.
For Jet Blue, Tuft & Needle have created a pillow and a blanket set that ever passenger will receive. The pillow is over-sized and wrapped in a layer of memory foam, making it suitable for any preferred comfort level. The blanket is designed to remind passengers of home comforts,
The final piece of the puzzle is the Snooze kit, which passengers can request whilst onboard, and contains and eyemask, earplugs and a toothbrush – the essentials someone might need to feel restful whilst onboard.
The High-Life of Bags & Brands B Y SI M O N WAR D ( AUT H OR)
Celebrates the crème de la crème of industry experts and their passion for delivering world class amenities and rounds up the 2019 TravelPlus Airline Amenity Awards. Hardback 260mm x 220mm. 150 pages full colour.
£35.00 + shipping To buy your copy email simon@travelplusawards.com
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New Arrivals
FORMIA and iFLY Smart Put Passenger Safety First Singapore Adds a Splash Sensuous Sophistication The Award-Winning Airline Partners with Renowned British Perfumery, Penhaligon’s, For Their Latest Business Class Offering. Singapore Airlines has always been synonymous with sky-high sophistication, partnering with the most iconic brands on the market. Their latest amenity kit offering takes this a step further in a collaboration with renowned British perfumers Penhaligon’s for their Business Class amenity kits. Supplier Buzz have created an elegant amenity program of unparalleled excellence, bringing the two iconic brands together in a perfect alignment of experiential luxury and personalized indulgence. Today, Penhaligon’s is the Crown Jewel in British Perfumery with a celebrated and respected heritage confirmed by two Royal Warrants. Its celebration of individuality is a shared cornerstone of Singapore Airlines’ Business Class experience, with Penhaligon’s most recent collection of perfumes boasting of diverse personalities and playful expressions. Business Class passengers can look forward to a green Penhaligon’s branded folio-style bag featuring a signature perfume bottle stopper shaped zip pull. Inside the kit are three luxurious Penhaligon’s Quercus fragranced skin care products including a lip balm, hand lotion and facial mist. Quercus is a modern and invigorating cologne with a joyful burst of citrus and basil, supported by jasmine, cardamom, lily and amber. Available via the SIA@home Business Class experience since 5th October and onboard in the coming months, Singapore are set to spoil their passengers with this sophisticated scent-filled treat. 10
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Offering Airlines A New Range of Innovative Health & Wellness Amenity Kits, FORMIA and iFLY Smart Deliver Solutions For Passenger Safety During The Pandemic. Recognized as the leading health & wellness brand in the travel industry, iFLY Smart is the perfect partner to develop a range of health and wellness amenity kits for airlines. Supplier FORMIA worked with Calego on this collaborative initiative, developing smart and safe offerings that will include antibacterial products, protective face masks and soonto-be announced items that will make travel safer and more comfortable than it has traditionally been. “We developed our health amenity kits back in 2017, long before COVID-19 emerged, because we always believed travellers must prioritize their health”, said David Rapps, President of Calego and CEO of iFLYSmart. “We’re thrilled to partner with FORMIA because together we will provide travellers around the world a range of products that answer their health and safety concerns in the most practical way possible.” This collaboration follows recent news from Calego regarding their Face Mask Dispenser Kit by iFLYSmart™, which is helping businesses and organizations reopen their offices safely.
New Arrivals
Air France Introduce New Limited Edition Long-Haul Business Class Kit The Long-Haul Business Cabin on Air France renews its classy comfort kit with a limited edition. To be distributed to Business customers for one year, from July 2020 to July 2021, the new design is available in navy blue and beige. The corduroy kit with elegant design and sober colours, will guarantee the comfort and well-being of customers with Every detail designed to offer Business customers a unique and refined object to take with them after the trip to reuse as a case for minitablet or reader. On the other hand, in order to preserve the environment and limit waste, the plastic packaging is replaced by an integrity indicator attached to the zip. Its contents include a wide night mask with a soft lining for better rest and a wide elastic band and adjustable buckle for all head sizes. Additional goodies include a Clarins® Refreshing Cream, Youth Clarins® hand cream, a Signal toothpaste, a toothbrush, Uvex ear plugs, an Air France logo pen, an Air France Harmony Microfiber Wipe, Headphone cups with an explanatory leaflet, a shoehorn and a pair of socks. 12
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John Horsfall’s BioFibre Fabric Innovation Puts Our Priorities First The Latest Innovation from John Horsfall Keeps it Green AND Keeps it Clean. It has never been more important for airlines to ensure that hygiene levels on their aircraft are kept high as people get used to travelling the world once again. However, it is also the case that the world is increasingly turning against single use plastics that are contributing to climate change. British supplier John Horsfall has created a naturally sustainable alternative that is ideal for headrests, pillow covers and tray mats in their BioFibre fabric. Made with reclaimed waste-wood - a bi-product from a number of other industries, using a clean, chemicalfree process; this soft, lint-free
material is an environmentally friendly, responsible choice for economy class disposables. More than 95% of the water used in the creation of the fabric is recycled back into the system, and therefore the environmental impact remains small. The fabric can also be dyed and printed to complement the cabin interior, and plant based inks are also an option. Currently, polypropylene headrests can take over 50 years to biodegrade to micro-plastic particles in landfill. The BioFibre can be recycled as easily as paper, and takes less than a year to biodegrade without the need for any specialist processing. It uses no solvents, chemicals, binders or glues, and keeps a large amount of waste wood from heading to landfill.
New Arrivals
Latam Protects Passengers with Breakthrough Technology Latam Partners with Kaelis, to take COPPTECH’s Breakthrough Technology Onboard To Provide Effective Protection Against Covid19. LATAM is already protecting its passengers with blankets that are incorporated with COPPTECH’s high-tech biocidal protection shield, delivering comfort that can fight off Covid bacteria. Supplier Kaelis, facilitated the match, and having partnered with COPPTECH, the world leader in biocide technology, looks to create more onboard products that have antimicrobial protection that not only eliminates SARSCOV-2 virus (the cause of CoViD19) but also protect from infectious diseases, pathogenic microbes, bacteria, virus and fungi. The technology has been extensively tested and validated by the prestigious Professor of Environmental Healthcare within the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton, Dr Bill Keevil, certifying its capacity to inhibit the growth and most importantly to eliminate CoViD19 virus. Kaelis is exclusively introducing this state-of-the-art patented technology to the travel industry allowing the supplier to produce new solutions for the onboard sector such as pyjamas, blankets, pillows, socks, pouches, trays, jugs, ice buckets, masks for the crew, galley equipment and many others that will help to shield against disease-causing microbes whilst still delivering a fulfilling passenger experience.
Molton Brown Launch Their New Signature Dispenser Introducing the new Molton Brown Signature Dispenser for Bath, Body, Hand and Hair Care collections. As part of its ongoing sustainable journey, Molton Brown introduce their Signature Dispenser for Bath, Body, Hand and Hair Care collections which will be available worldwide early 2021. As the latest addition to their expanding dispensing programme Molton Brown are proud to continue their commitment to delivering sustainable solutions. The dispenser promises to reduce waste and excess spending while supporting the brand’s hotel partners and their conscious care for the environment with Installation preventing more than 18,250 bottles and 137kg of plastic being sent to landfill every year. Channelling Molton Brown’s iconic spherical design, the dispenser proudly displays the brand’s Royal Warrant, awarded by Her Majesty the Queen and features the heritage Mayfair Ebony colourway and refined Gun Metal finish. Crafted to suit every bathroom aesthetic, it has a removable metal plate to change the product collection name, and a fill level indicator on the front, for housekeeping staff to clean and replenish with ease. To ensure the best standards of hygiene, the dispenser has a tamper-proof system and can’t be opened or removed by hotel guests. Hotels can choose from a diverse selection of exquisite fragrances to give their guests a full, sensorial ritual; from an invigorating morning shower to a restorative nighttime soak enhancing the luxurious quality of a hotel guest’s experience. AMENITIESMAGAZINE.COM
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New Arrivals
SPIRIANT Creates and Curates Kits For The Covid Era The award-winning supplier innovates a new concept of Amenity Kits to keep Airline Passengers Safe. With a pandemic massively impacting the nature of travel and the onboard passenger experience, it is crucial that airlines are doing everything they can to reassure their travellers and keep them safe throughout the journey. As a result of this, SPIRIANT has developed a new concept of amenity kits to support airlines and their passengers’ health and safety as they fly from A to B. Their new line of amenity kits contains a wide variety of items that ensure the safety of passengers including facemasks, hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes. Additionally, the unique nature of the range gives airlines the opportunity to promote their brand and choose from a selection of 3 different design options, ‘The Eco Warrior Kit’, ‘The Fashionista Kit’ and ‘The New Amenity Kit.’ While safety is the most important issue when it comes to these products, environmental awareness and a general sense for fashion are certainly not neglected. The Eco Warrior Kit is entirely made out of environmentally friendly materials,
includes a reusable facemask and a pack of sanitizing towels safely stored within a pouch. The brown and dark green colours resemble the ecofriendly material while also offering a more fashionable choice compared to the average non-woven face masks. For those seeking an option that differs widely and offers much room for customization, SPIRIANT have developed the fashionista collection. The pouch itself contains a refreshing towel, a pack of tissues and, its most outstanding item, the reusable facemask made with 100% cotton fabric. These eye-catching designs offer airlines the opportunity for brand alignment that reflects their ethos and style.
Focused on a high-end travel experience, the ‘New Amenity Kit’ provides all the necessities for luxurious travel during the COVID19 pandemic. The kit contains a wide number of different items, including a cotton facemask in collaboration with FUZE and high-class, allnatural cosmetics from Sydneybased cosmetics manufacturer BONDI WASH. Lastly, SPIRIANT recently launched a facemask produced in collaboration with FUZE. The FUZE material is chemical applicable to almost all surfaces that actively kills 99.9% of all germs and bacteria. Additionally, the substance is completely environmentally friendly, representing a unique approach to hygienic safety in aviation. These factors make FUZE a holistic approach that still emphasizes sustainability while ensuring complete hygienic safety. Testing for the use of FUZE masks against COVID-19 is currently ongoing. While there has not been a final result yet, the first stages of testing seem very promising with the material staying protective for up to 100 washes.
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2020
The year that was End of an Era or Beginning of One?! It’s all on how we perceive situations
2020 the year that was
It would not be an exaggeration to say that 2020 has been a year of challenges. Undoubtedly the biggest global event in recent human history, the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed the way we live, work and travel. This couldn’t be any truer than for our beloved aviation industry and the challenges it has had to navigate with lateral thinking that, perhaps regardless of coronavirus, we were in desperate need of. As the top commercial sector to take the biggest hit, the aviation industry has had to make the most severe adjustments. Suffering a colossal loss at the beginning of the pandemic, the industry witnessed passenger traffic decline to a meagre 4% of its usual worldwide passenger numbers. Domestic flights were halted, long-haul flights were long forgotten and the skies were silenced. It cannot be ignored that airlines stand to face a fall in revenue by $419 billion, as predicted by IATA.
747 Queen of the Skies. These two perfectly designed aircrafts ideal for socially distanced travel are no longer viable thanks to governmental failure and legislative inaction. But it has never been an industry not to bounce back from adversity, and, as expected the thinking caps were put on and solutions were found. In our previous issue, we encouraged you to ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’, well now, we implore you ‘Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more.’ Amongst the adversity, 2020 has also been a year of exciting development and innovation, with a number of products being researched and
Governments around the world have bailed out the Etihad Wellness Ambassadors airlines, but left the logistics and legislation up to the manufactured in record-quick time travel industry. There are guidelines to ensure passenger and crew issued by the Centres for Disease health and safety whilst travelling. Control and Prevention (CDC), and Suppliers and airlines alike have the Federal Aviation Administration created a collaborative approach (FAA), but it falls to the airlines and to try and combat the inaction from airports to implement them, and take governments, and have risen to the independent action. This has led to a challenges thrown into their path. patchwork collection of regulations, threatening to undermine the work From PPE provided onboard through done by the airlines, and expose to new engaging concepts and travellers to risk from infection, and damage any hard won confidence that ground-breaking tech that reduces the number of touch points such as travel is safe. Panasonic Avionics, to antimicrobial textiles and blankets, we could not This crisis has led to the grounding and retirement of two of the most be more astounded by the industry’s iconic planes to ever fly the globe: sheer determination to reassure the Superjumbo A380 and Boeing and protect their passengers on-
board. We have also seen new sustainability strategies, solutions and products across the industry and wellness initiatives that have taken flight such as Etihad’s wellness ambassadors onboard. Some systems for passenger wellness have always been in place, such as the sophisticated technology of onboard air filtration systems refresh the entire cabin air volume every few minutes, with recirculated air passing through high-tech, HEPA filters that remove 99.97% of virus size particles. However, there are now developments for cleaning between flights, for example every aircraft being fogged with electrostatic disinfectant on the changeover between flights. This is ensuring that air travel is cleaner, and safer than ever before. In America JetBlue and Delta are leading the way by eliminating the middle seat. Encouragingly we are seeing domestic flights in both China and America are on the rise again. This is truly testament to the safety measures the airlines are implementing, and the importance of passenger confidence. However, it will still be a few months yet until we truly see international flights start to recover. So, we thank you pilots, attendants, logistics, suppliers, designers, CEOs, passengers, airport staff etc. for ensuring the industry we love survives, continues to grow and adapts, innovates and realizes a new tomorrow today. The hard work has only just begun. But whatever COVID-19 may have to throw at us, ‘once more unto the breach dear friends, once more’.
by Lily Fleur Bradbury AMENITIESMAGAZINE.COM
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Covid Safety Initiatives
Cabin, crew & passenger covid safety initiatives The coronavirus pandemic has rapidly transformed our industry whilst air travel has seen a significant decrease, airlines have scrambled to implement new protective measures to make passengers and crew feel safe during the pandemic. Around the world, airlines are administering temperature checks, requiring passengers to wear face masks, and implementing new ways to disinfect planes
Seats & Classes In response to the pandemic came a wide variety of new concepts for airline seats from plexiglass dividers between passengers, new staggered row layouts, zig-zag seating and space-age transparent bubbles.
Factorydesign : HeadZone Factorydesign a London-based design agency devised HeadZone as a simple and affordable way for economy passengers to feel safer in their seated environment, with a simple foldout product made from recycled cardboard and multi-use.
Avio Interiors : Glassafe Avio Interiors “Glassafe” - A kit-level solution that can be installed on existing seats to make close proximity safer among passengers sharing the same seat. It can be supplied in opaque material or with different degrees of transparency, all easy cleaning and suitable for a safe hygienisation.
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Covid Safety Initiatives
PriestmanGoode : Pure Skies
Cabin Hygiene
PriestmanGoode unveiled a raft of design ideas offering a road map towards future growth and passenger satisfaction in the aviation industry. Pure Skies includes a complete review of Business and Economy Class cabins and addresses pressing consumer, business and environmental concerns.
Portable Ultraviolet (UV) Cabin System
Pure Skies Rooms (previously Business Class) will have each seat fully enclosed personal space, partitioned by full height curtains. A brand-new seat design with minimal split lines and seam-welded fabrics with Antimicrobial materials and finishes. Pure Skies Zones (previously Economy Class) will see the removal of IFE screens in favour of passenger- owned devices. Also the removal of the seat-back tray, replaced with a clip-on meal tray direct from the trolley and no gaps in the back of seat shell to eliminate dirt traps.
Qatar Airways lay claim to becoming the first “global carrier” to operate Honeywell’s portable Ultraviolet (UV) Cabin System. The UV Cabin System bathes an aircraft cabin in ultraviolet-c (UVC) light, a practice used in hospitals, microbiology labs, and other applications.
Aircraft fogging The three largest airlines in the US expanded their aircraft cleaning measures to include a new method: fogging. The process includes spraying an electrically-charged and safe to breathe disinfectant on interior aircraft surfaces before the physical cleaning process to ensure germs and viruses are eradicated.
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Covid Safety Initiatives
Crew PPE Cabin crews faced problems adjusting to the new gear earlier in the year clad head to toe in personal protective equipment.
PPEs reflect the airline’s blue, yellow, and red colour palette whilst AirAsia enlisted the help of Los Angeles-based Filipino designer Puey Quinones.
Both Philippine Airline’s and AirAsia unveiled new cabin crew uniform, which includes a medical mask, protective visor and boiler suit. Philippine Airline’s
In June we witness an industry first with Etihad Airways introducing Wellness Ambassadors to provide greater level of customer care and reassurance.
Passenger PPE Kits Airlines raced to offer passenger PPE kits as suppliers rushed to supply them. Currently most airlines are providing PPE kits for passengers and the discussion has commenced on how PPE kits and amenity kits will work together in the future.
Etihad Airways
Malaysia Airlines
Emirates
Etihad Airways, gifted a snood style facemask for First and Business class guests to use throughout their journey The soft reusable snood is treated with MicrobeBARRIER™ fabric treatment to reduce the presence of germs in fabrics.
Malaysia Airlines gifts complimentary Hygiene Kit for all passengers which came with a non-surgical face mask, a sachet of hand sanitiser and a sachet of sanitary wipes, hygienically packed in a sealed zip-lock small sized pouch which is perfect for passengers to comfortably keep in their pockets.
Emirates introduced complimentary hygiene kits to be given to every passenger upon check in at Dubai International Airport and on flights to Dubai. These kits comprise of masks, gloves, antibacterial wipes and hand sanitiser.
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AIRLINE WINE 
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An Amenity Kit Programme Unlike any Other!
Amenity kits grounded in health
Something exciting is coming to JetBlue, New York’s ‘Hometown Carrier’ airline. They are having a complete refresh of their Jet Blue Mint business class, and their amenity offerings are in collaboration with WESSCO International. The new offerings focus on passenger health and wellbeing whilst onboard, and are unlike any other amenity program currently in the skies. WESSCO collaborated with JetBlue and Wanderfuel to design, produce and execute the launch of 4 route specific kits, each featuring a variety of wellness brands and products. Additionally, the brands included in each kit will be rotated every quarter ensuring that frequent flyers receive a wide variety of products. The kits are divided into 4 different styles: Flow, Renewal, Awake and Sleep and are available dependent on route, focused on the passenger needs either onboard, or when they arrive at their destination. • RENEWAL KIT: Given to fliers en route to the Caribbean features products like vitamin C serum from Asutra, Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion, a packet of Goop’s Morning Skin Superpowder supplement and a pair of ultra-soft socks. • FLOW KIT: Distributed on domestic lunch and dinner flights, it includes Hum Nutrition digestive supplements, Neuro Mints, a Lumion face mist and a pair of ultra-soft socks. AMENITIESMAGAZINE.COM
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Amenity kits grounded in health
JetBlue Sleep Kit
WESSCO have also been at the heart of Jet Blue’s new sleep service for overnight flights, the Tuft & Needle Snooze Kit. The kit includes earplugs, an oversized eyeshade with Velcro band for easy adjustments, and a pre-pasted toothbrush, to cut down on waste. Similarly to the amenity kits, these are also packaged in recyclable, sustainable kraft paper. The focus on sustainability and passenger wellbeing is a promising step forward for onboard amenities. The future of amenity kits has to be greener, led with product designed perfectly for the passengers they are catering for. WESSCO International, with Wanderfuel and Jet Blue are paving the way for the future.
• AWAKE KIT: Passengers on morning flights will get items like Crushed Tonic Matcha, Ursa Major face wipe, Scentered Mini Balm and a pair of ultra-soft socks. • SLEEP KIT: Redeye flyers get a Sleep kit, including a Busy Beauty body wipe, Ursa Major recovery cream, Beautycounter Face Oil and a pair of ultra-soft socks. The kits also have a collectible nature for regular travellers, with Wanderfuel’s signature palm pattern in an all over print in 4 distinct colourways. WESSCO worked with Wanderfuel to invoke the spirit of each route within the design of the kits. The design is printed on eco-friendly kraft paper, a vegan leather alternative which works like a traditional fabric, is reusable, but also sustainable. 24
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JetBlue Flow Kit
KEEPING YOU SAFE, WHEREVER YOU GO Designed with your safety as our highest priority, WESSCO International developed TravelShield™ to ensure that you can travel wherever, whenever comfortably.
Explore our full range of stock products and our custom B2B solutions at mytravelshield.com
Get in touch with our Sales team at info@mytravelshield.com
Meet the Frugal Bottle Fruits of The Earth Poured from Paper Bottles
The wine bottle that it up to five times lighter than a glass bottle and friendlier to the planet by Lily Fleur Bradbury
The Frugal Bottle
We all have that favourite onboard tipple we like to sup on as we cruise at 35,000 feet. A little luxury that gives us a taste of the golden era of travel where boozing onboard meant only the very best of the best. Now we find ourselves in the midst of a pandemic era, with Covid limitations seeing airlines reducing such luxuries onboard, or stopping alcoholic beverages onboard altogether for the time being, ‘Oh Mon Dieu!’ As commercial flight has grown, over 9 billion travellers jet set across the globe on an annual basis and, as a result, air travel and transportation contributes to 4.9 % of human-caused climate change, including emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
The current landscape of the industry is a volatile balancing act between sustainability, hygiene and luxury and the race is on for airlines to deliver new solutions that lighten the load without detracting from the passenger experience. But how can airlines fulfil these three key priorities with limited budgets, especially with the tumultuous times of Covid? Of course, there are the big strategies that airlines can do, with greener fuel alternatives, recycling initiatives, repurposed aircraft parts etc. But it’s also the smaller steps that can really make waves in improving sustainability standards. Onboard catering, tableware and consumables can make all the difference to a sustainable service that still speaks of sophistication. Even if onboard offerings are limited, airlines need to do all they can to give passengers something to smile about. Well, British company Frugalpac may just have the very thing to quench the airlines’ thirst for sustainable packaging solutions and still provide that certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to enchant even the most discernible passengers onboard. Introducing the Frugal Bottle; the recycled paper wine bottle that boasts of innovative beauty while protecting the planet. When we order our nice bottle of claret to delight in, have we stopped to think how our ‘little’ need for indulgence is increasing the airplanes footprint with every bottle that is stocked onboard. Of course not, we’re too busy getting sloshed. But the airline is gasping to find a way to deliver you your drink of choice more sustainably without cheapening the experience. Plastic is not an option, it might be lighter than traditional glass, but it creates a mountain of singleuse waste. How about paper? Don’t
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The Frugal Bottle
be ridiculous, as soon as it gets wet it’ll go soggy and ruin the wine darling. Well think again. Made from 94% recycled paperboard, the 75cl Frugal Bottle has a carbon footprint up to six times (84%) lower than a glass bottle and more than a third less than a bottle made from 100% recycled plastic; only 15g compared to a 64g bottle made from 100% recycled plastic. AND It’s easy to recycle again. The integrated plastic food-grade liner simply needs to be removed from the paper bottle before you can put both components in the appropriate recycling bins. Or you can put the whole bottle in your paper recycling bin and the liner will be easily separated in the paper repulping process. If airlines can collaborate with their beverage partners to take the leap to Frugal Bottles, they could be looking at a whole host of beautiful benefits that not only help with their CSR and sustainability strategies but also their passenger gifting experience. AND it’s a win-win for wine producers too, as the Frugal Bottle can be produced in the heart of their bottling facility, allowing them to cut the carbon footprint of each bottle by up to 84% and reduce emissions from transporting bottles and offering complete freedom of design and print. Frugalpac Chief Executive Malcolm Waugh said: “Frugalpac’s business model is to supply Frugal
Bottle machines for wine producers or packaging companies to manufacture the bottles on their site, cutting carbon emissions even further. Materials can be purchased locally through existing paperboard printers to give maximum freedom of design and the best commercial offering.” The first wine to go on sale in the Frugal Bottle is from the award-winning Italian vineyard Cantina Goccia. It is also under the active consideration of a number of leading UK supermarket chains and hospitality groups keen to promote sustainable packaging and will be available from other retail outlets across the UK, in Denmark, and Holland over the next few weeks. And of course, it’s not just reserved for alcohol made from the grape variety. Another company to innovate their own plastic-free paperbased bottle design is Pulpex Limited; a sustainable packaging technology company formed by Diageo and Pilot Life. Their leading collaboration with Johnnie Walker black label whiskey is made entirely from sustainably sourced wood and is fully recyclable, pioneering a new mind-set in the commercial drinks sector, with other brands such as Seagram’s 7 Crown American whiskey brand and Pernod Ricard-owned Absolut Vodka looking at similar alternatives.
With the Frugal Bottle brand having already sparked a huge amount of interest in a drinks industry keen to cut their emissions and appeal to a new audience of consumers interested in sustainability, the Frugal Bottle is destined to go onboard and take the aviation sector by storm. Especially as the Frugal Bottle is not only the perfect opportunity to align with consumer priorities but is also a unique new way to push branding, creativity and the gifting experience. Made from recycled paperboard, the Frugal Bottle allows for 360-degree branding offering endless creative opportunities for both airlines and wine producers. Airlines could collaborate with local artists displaying their artwork on the bottle, or could have maps of the passenger’s destination, or history of the airline to commemorate a birthday year. The list goes on, and, with a reduced catering service, if it can’t be served inflight why not gift it on their arrival? One things for sure, it’s a clear message in bottle that signifies the collaboration of nature and humanity to create a unique experience for everyone and lift our ‘spirits’. So, whether it’s Gin, rum, vodka, you name it, airlines will have you floating above the clouds in no time with these quirky but vital Frugal Bottles of fun. AMENITIESMAGAZINE.COM
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Sustainable textiles
Sustainable Textiles The John Horsfall team discuss why there isn’t just a single solution to single-use textiles…
As textile experts John Horsfall are committed to finding eco-conscious, sustainable inflight options that create a big impact – in terms of design, not on the environment! The conversation around sustainable airline textiles is complex and can be confusing for the uninitiated. Plastic free packaging, recycled fibres, biodegradable fabrics, rotable vs disposable etc… the list can seem endless; so, where do we start? Recycled fibres are the first approach. Rotable fleece blankets can be made from recycled PET (polyester derived from discarded plastic bottles) and 30
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are completely indistinguishable from the usual virgin fibre polyester fleece blankets. So, if that is the type of blanket your airline needs, then you are taking 20-30 plastic bottles out of circulation each time one is made. This seems like a great solution to make a soft, cosy, and completely serviceable airline product, doesn’t it? But another approach looks at the overall life cycle of a blanket. A fleece blanket will stay fresh for around 30 wash cycles. If you use the same 100% recycled Polyester but in a woven blanket, the tighter spun yarn and smoother handle mean that the
blanket can be washed for around 100 cycles! Investing in longevity could be considered a more environmentally sustainable option. John Horsfall Business Development Manager Ellie Parkes has another environmental consideration in mind – micro plastics in the water supply, “Fleece fabrics, however they are made, are a great product; but they do still shed micro fibres during laundry. The tightly spun yarn and fabric construction of a woven blanket sheds far fewer fibres – and provides an ideal platform for interesting textures or strong all over design.”
Sustainable textiles
Sustainable thoughts should also apply to laundry - an important factor when considering a rotable product of any type. New technology in laundry machinery has seen water use steadily decreased over the last few decades, and as much water as possible is recycled back into the system. Fabrics that take very little processing to launder and dry quickly are advantageous both from sustainable point of view and a cost perspective. What about biodegradable options? Single use headrest covers and pillow covers are a common sight on low cost and economy flights. Sourcing a 100% naturally biodegradable alternative for disposable items could be an eco-friendly and sustainable solution. John Horsfall Product Manager, Kirsty Sumner says, “The key is naturally biodegradable. We have new product – BioFibre - that fits the bill perfectly. Its 100% natural, made from wood fibre and it can be recycled like paper – or it will biodegrade in less than a year, with no chemicals or special instructions.”
Or you could replace the disposable paper type product with a PU/leather look headrest. These don’t require the in-service handling of traditional rotable or disposable products – they won’t need to be laundered or removed/disposed of after each flight.
They can also be made from recycled materials and hygienically cleaned with disinfectant in the same way as seats and hard surfaces in the aircraft. Last but not least, packaging is also an important issue. John Horsfall have been developing ideas to remove the plastic wrapping from its products for a number of years and are thrilled that, even in the current climate, the airline industry are still thinking of ways to minimize the amount of materials, earth’s resources and energy that they use and the amount of waste their actions produce. By considering the whole life of a product, from initial outlay, ‘in-service’ cost and finally discarding it, an airline can significantly reduce the amount of material/resources used both in making the product and disposing of it. At John Horsfall design we can make and deliver a sustainable solution suitable for most airlines budget helping them to be well on the way to achieving their sustainability target. AMENITIESMAGAZINE.COM
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A squeaky clean dental routine
Time to ditch plastic toothbrushes by Hayley Hartland
A Squeaky Clean Dental Routine 
Now, more than ever there is a push for airlines to be green, to put their money where their mouths are and make the move to improve their green credentials – but where should they start? It may seem a small part of the myriad offerings onboard, but the humble dental kit is a challenge that airlines need to solve if they want to reduce the single use plastic onboard.
It is an indisputable fact that plastic pollution is now creating an impact on the world that we must fight to reverse. Our natural habitats are endangered, and wildlife is fighting for survival due to the impact humans have on the planet. As an example, by 2050 it is believed that there will be more plastic in the sea than fish. Each year over 3.6 billion plastic toothbrushes are sold, with 99% of all toothbrushes bought by consumers being plastic. In the world of airline amenity kits there is also a long way to go when looking at the kits entered into the TravelPlus Airline Amenity Bag Awards around 75% of them still contain a plastic toothbrush and toothpaste tube. So what is the answer? How do airlines provide a product that suits their budgets, whilst being fit for purpose, and saving the planet? Thankfully, all is not completely lost! There are now a number of exciting, sustainable products coming to the
The Hubble Co range of toothbrushes are already onboard with Lufthansa, SAS and Swiss
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A Squeaky Clean Dental Routine
market that will allow airlines to offer ethical, green and economical solutions to their passengers in their dental kits. Amenities has taken the opportunity to talk to a few of the current contenders, to hear more about what they do, and how their products are an answer to airline’s sustainability problem. @BambuuBrush was launched in 2019 by Tommie Eaton and Rebecca Dudbridge who have over 14 years travel experience between them, and are both focused on spreading the importance of lessening plastic waste via the power of social media. They are one of the few that have managed to break the airline market and are featured in the current Virgin Atlantic amenity kit offerings. They have also sold their bamboo toothbrushes in over 50 countries around the world, including being an official supplier for Team GB in the Tokyo Olympics. They have created a brush made from Bamboo, which also features bristles which includes the naturally anti-bacterial activated charcoal as a cleaning agent. Bamboo is reputed to be the most sustainable product in the world, as it is easy to grow with no need for extra chemicals, and is good for the environment in which it is grown. @BambuuBrush are also focused on the importance of offsetting carbon emissions, as well as education outreach programmes, to ensure the next generations are able to look at alternatives to plastic for everyday items and encourage a greener, cleaner future. EcoFella is another company that have designed dental products that are more sustainable than the plastic ones currently on offer. As well as their Bamboo brushes, they also offer toothpaste tablets, which could be offered in amenity kits in paper packaging for even less plastic waste. Toothpaste tablets are pieces of small, dehydrated toothpaste, which when rehydrated using the saliva in the passengers mouth turns to a foaming toothpaste – removing the need for plastic toothpaste tubes. Their Founder and Director Melle Bax says, ‘When we look at the bamboo toothbrush, we look at 3 things: sustainability, functionality, and durability.’ This means that every toothbrush they make is not only sourced from sustainable bamboo, but also is made in an ethical environment, with workers receiving a fair wage, and working conditions. They also plant trees for each toothbrush sold to ensure they are giving back to the environment. Finally, there is the Humble Co. A Swedish health and wellness company that offer oral care products that are designed by dentists, and are kind to the planet. The humble brush is a bamboo toothbrush which has already sold in excess of 35 million units worldwide, and comes in a variety of bristle types to ensure that consumers get the dental hygiene routine that they prefer. They are currently
@BambuuBrush can be found inside Virgin Atlantic’s new kits
working with Lufthansa, and are contained within their airline amenity kits. Interestingly, alongside their bamboo products, they have also created their Vegan humble brush, which features a handle that is made from entirely plant based products. The Humble Co. are acutely aware of the budget constraints faced by airlines, and so are keen to ensure that they provide their items at no higher cost to the airline than a standard dental kit. Although these products are exciting, and mark an end to the traditional plastic toothbrush offered onboard, there is still some way to go to make them truly 100% sustainable. The brushes from the companies above all use nylon bristles, or bristles made from castor oil, none of which are biodegradable. This is to ensure that the products meet global dental standards, and can be kept anti-bacterial. These plastics will still break down into small pieces, and end up in our oceans as ‘micro-plastics’, harming our environment and wildlife. Natural alternatives are often not vegan, as they are derived from animal hair, and which are not certified by any dental health body, as they are breeding grounds for bacteria. However, there is one product available that is 100% fully biodegradable on the market. Wet & Clean is a compact bamboo toothbrush with bioplastic bristles, and coated with Chitosan, a natural antibacterial product created from shrimp shells. By incorporating the Chitosan into the bristles of the brush, it negates the need for a separate toothpaste, and can be packaged in a recyclable box, AMENITIESMAGAZINE.COM
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A Squeaky Clean Dental Routine
making it a completely green, sustainable alternative to the dental kit conundrum.
Wet & Clean bamboo toothbrush with bioplastic bristles
It is not just the toothbrush that causes a headache for sustainability whilst onboard – there is also the question of the plastic toothpaste tube with the foil seal. Again, however, there may be an answer in the form of toothpaste tabs. These are small, dehydrated toothpaste tablets that are rehydrated when put in the mouth, and form a foaming toothpaste that can be used in conjunction with a brush, and eliminates the need for a plastic tube. Eco Fella and the Humble Co. both have versions of this type of product on the market, as they are aware that just changing a toothbrush is not the end of the problem. There is also the company Bite that specialises in toothpaste tabs, having been in the consumer market for a few years now, and have featured in leading publications around the world. For the airlines these products are sustainable, take up less space in a kit, and are lighter – the holy grail for onboard amenities, as the less weight, the less fuel. Unfortunately, changing the status quo always comes at a price. Although some airlines, including Hawaiian and Delta, are starting to incorporate sustainable alternatives into their dental kits, most are slower on the uptake. As with all areas of the amenities market, the budgets available for the kits are constantly being squeezed, and this makes introducing new products problematic. Currently airlines
only invest between 6 and 10 cents on the total dental kit found in the kit, and these products, in most cases, come in higher than that. Airlines are often reluctant to rock the boat and change long tested, and trusted products, especially as it means more expenditure with no guarantee the passengers will react positively to the change. However, passengers are evolving, the brands and credentials they want and trust are changing, and more and more they are keen to incorporate sustainability into products they use. So surely the time has come to invest – the more airlines that include sustainable products in their kits, the more economical the products will become – a simple case of supply and demand. Now is the time for airlines to swallow the short term cost, for longer term gain – their customers, and our planet will thank them for it. 36
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In the Spotlight Amenities has taken the opportunity to catch up with Simon Ward, one of the leading independent experts on airline onboard amenities and founder of The TravelPlus Airline Amenity Awards. We hear his thoughts on this unique year, and what he thinks the airline onboard amenities industry will look like moving forward. by Hayley Hartland
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
How has the pandemic impacted the airline and onboard amenity industry?
for passengers in the longer term. All of which will suppress the demand for new onboard passenger amenities.
No other industry sector has been as badly affected by the pandemic; global aviation is facing its worst crisis in living memory. We have witnessed 20 airlines going bust so far this year, with around 5,000 passenger aircrafts mothballed, as well as the early retirement Boeing 747’s and Airbus a380’s.
What impact will this have on the cabin classes in the future?
This has devastated the onboard services sector with many suppliers fighting for survival with cancelled orders and no new business. Airlines have been selling comfort items online to loyal customers in an effort to liquidate their containers and warehouses full of pre-ordered stock. In the early days of the pandemic, all the suppliers rushed to compete for the airlines demand for PPE equipment, however, all were similar in content and design. More recently a number of suppliers have differentiated themselves by developing brands such as TravelShield ™ by WESSCO International, #flysafe from Spiriant and Wet & Clean from FORMIA.
When do you expect to see the industry start to recover? I anticipate that the airlines recovery will be driven by leisure tourism and domestic travel in Q3 2021. With more people working from home, business travel will not be as prevalent. I would expect that long-haul international carriers will continue to face the biggest challenges as they are more dependent on business travellers. Long haul flight recovery will be constrained by travel corridors, entry restrictions and in some cases bilateral agreements between nations. The lack of business travel could see some routes become commercially unviable, which will mean less choice 38
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I would expect to see a reduction in First and Business class, as one demographic now flies privately, and corporate budgets are forcing others to fly economy, so I think we will defiantly see an escalation in premium economy seats. A number of airlines prior to the pandemic had announced that they were planning new developments in this class. I believe there will be a rapid decline of First Class; Qatar Airways has already made an announcement that they are planning to get rid of their First Class after they retire their A380s. I read recently the suggestion of an ‘Isolation Class’ and the name suggests it will be fitted with a personal ventilator! The article went on to say that some passengers like the idea of travelling in a self-contained unit. This class already exists in Business and First Class so I don’t believe we will see this class onboard any day soon.
What do you think airlines need to focus on moving forward? Going forward the most important innovations without a doubt will be green technology. COVID-19 coincided with growing concerns about the climate emergency, and airlines were already under pressure to provide solutions. The race is truly on to find greener aviation fuel and develop hydrogen-powered aircraft. Airlines will of course become greener as they use more environment friendly jets Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s and Airbus A350’s and fly fewer routes,
but the pressure to find truly greener alternatives is real. This being the case suppliers will be seeking alternatives to the plastic items still found in most amenity kits, plastic comb, folding hairbrush, toothbrush’s as well as tubes of toothpaste and cosmetics. To be fair, many had already started the move away from single use plastic but as with most green technology the investment cost increases so airlines will need to start investing more in onboard amenities in the coming years.
Do you think the onboard passenger experience will change as they return to travelling? There have been a number of suggestions over the last couple of months, including air vents in headrests, and seat dividers that range from cardboard to plastic to encourage separation between passengers. However, I think in reality the biggest change passenger will notice is that cabins will be cleaner as airlines clean them more regularly, and more thoroughly. Alongside this, I think the wearing of masks by both passengers and crew will remain, and inflight services will continue to be reduced to mitigate the number of touch points throughout a journey. Passengers may also see an increase in the offering of use of single use items; for example a dental kit being available in the onboard lavatories along with hand sanitizer.
What is the future of the cherished amenity kit? That’s an interesting question. I strongly believe amenity kits across all cabin classes will need to reflect the new shift towards passenger wellness
In the Spotlight
and hygiene whilst being sustainable. The challenge facing suppliers is how to deliver this whilst still delivering the wow factor. Airlines may well look to align themselves with brands more associated with personal wellness and hygiene rather than the luxury brands we have seen over recent years.
SIMON’s hot picks What is your favourite city? Rio for its Bossa Nova music in my favourite bar - the Bip Bip Bar. What is your favourite amenity kit of all time? The British Airways Gladstone style leather bag designed by Anya Hindmarch. Your favourite onboard tipple? A dark rum, ginger beer and lime over ice. Where is your favourite place to go on vacation? Wherever my wife decides as she has the knack of choosing the right spot that can cater for the whole family.
I am confident that kits will stay but not as we know them. I would expect to see more personalisation, a higher quality of product inside the kits and more tailored content to really provide passengers what they need depending on what time of day or night they fly.
Can you expand of what you mean by great personalisation of amenities? The pandemic has seen airlines making a seismic shift in using passenger data to provide a more personalised food service and help to eliminate food waste when it comes to onboard dining. I think this is just the tip of the iceberg as airlines start to realise the true potential of this passenger data. As passengers can now pre order their food and drinks why not then their onboard amenities? There is no reason this can’t apply to every passenger regardless of class of travel. Airlines may well develop new revenue channels by pre-selling onboard amenities to passengers in economy class.
How do you think the pandemic will affect the supply chain? As the number of destinations are reduced and airlines trim fleets to match demand, experts forecast a 30% reduction of capacity across the
industry with possibly a ¼ of lossmaking routes axed. With less competition and airlines flying certain routes, the long term trajectory is for fares to increase as business travel takes longer to recover, which currently accounts for more than half of most airlines profits. The effect of reduced capacity and decline in routes will require suppliers to change and adapt as most current business models are based on volume to keep unit costs competitive. Reducing the quantity will squeeze the already tight margins. Couple this with the passenger demand for more sustainable items, in the short term we may see a number of suppliers absorb the cost but eventually airlines will need to start to invest more in their onboard passenger amenities. As passenger fares increase any additional investment required could well be incorporated in the fare.
You postponed the TravelPlus Airline Amenity Awards this year why? It became apparent to me early on in the year that airlines were cancelling new product launches and postponing tenders due to the pandemic. In September we reached out to the industry to canvas opinions, which confirmed to me the need to delay for 12 months, during which time I hope that there will be more products on the market, and air travel will be on the path to resurgence. I did consider moving them to coincide with the rescheduled WTCE as some suggested however, I felt this would still be too early in the potential recovery of the industry. So if all goes to plan we will be back in Hamburg in 2022. AMENITIESMAGAZINE.COM
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The Emoji’s Strange Power
The emoji's strange power
Pictures can say more than a thousand words – taking the emoji® brand into the skies! Airlines are often looking for brands and partnerships that appeal to young and old alike, to keep up with the latest on trend fashions and to expand their reach into the marketplace after their passengers have left their care. Finding brands that can bridge the gap between young travellers and older, more seasoned clients is a challenge that amenities suppliers face every year, however, Skysupply GmbH has hit the nail right on the techbased head. Digital emojis are everywhere. In fact more than 10 billion are used daily across the globe. We all use them as a shorthand way to convey what we are thinking, feeling or doing by text, email or on social media platforms. The emoji® brand is present in over 130 countries and the emoji company is amongst the Top 150 Global Licensors. Its partners contain world class corporations such as Sony Pictures Animation (The Emoji Movie), Ferrero, Unilever, Danone, Kellogg´s or Nestle just to name a few and the emoji company generates an annual retail revenue of more than 800 Million US$ with its licensed products. Skysupply secured the exclusive rights to include the universal emoji® lifestyle brand in their onboard offerings, and this sees the beginning of a very exciting partnership –
which has wide ranging uses in the amenities market. Both skysupply and the emoji company are committed to using the partnership to create a new range of kids kits, onboard amenities and activity programmes aimed at teenage and adult passengers. By capturing the emoji® brand the possibilities for its uses onboard seem endless, not just within the kits, but in food service, or tech offerings, including games and inflight entertainment systems. With the emoji companies support airlines can obtain personalised emoji® brand icons that appeal to their particular passengers, or that reflect the areas of the world they travel to. This personalisation aspect means that passengers and airlines can include emoji® brand icons in their own messaging, thus expanding the airline’s marketing reach amongst their passengers, and their nearest, probably likeminded, friends. The emoji® brand already works with hundreds of license partners globally and operates its own apparel stores in China. It is clear that the cultural impact of the emoji® brand is not stopping any time soon, and truly transcend age groups
Named by combining the Japanese words for picture (e-) and character (moji), emoji’s are used thousands of times every second globally.
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The emoji's strange power
to take the kit off the plane – once again increasing the marketing reach for both airline, and the emoji® brand. What also cannot be ignored is the capability to include the content in any entertainment, or gaming system either on board, or in smartphone apps. As Amenities has discussed before, the growth of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality apps and games are starting to take hold on the amenities market, and the emoji® brand seems to fit neatly into this sector. Airlines also would be able to use content developed for them to their brand, tying together the physical onboard amenities with their entertainment offerings.
and genders – making it a perfect partner in the travel industry. It also means that there are no limits when it comes to incorporating emoji® brand icons into onboard messaging. The branding opportunities can be loud and playful in kid’s kits and amenities, or more subdued or fashion led in those aimed at adult passengers. Within the amenities market there has long been a desire to create items that can be used after the journey is over, or have a collectible aspect. This partnership with the emoji® brand offers a clear opportunity to create amenities that can be collected as a ‘set’, each featuring different, corresponding images from the emoji® brand library. As an internationally recognised brand any amenity that they include instantly has value added to the item, and should increase the desire 42
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Overall, this is a brand partnership that ticks a lot of boxes that airlines have found difficult in the past. It is a brand that has appeal across age groups, and could answer some of the problems that airlines face when creating amenities for the 13–18 age group, as well as being able to incorporate a little bit of ‘fun’ into the adult amenity market. It will be exciting to see how this develops, and how airlines use this opportunity to rethink the amenities they offer – adding a splash of colour into a marketplace that is so often monochrome. Just like the emoji® motto says: spreading emotions around the world!
PAPER v PLASTIC 
PAPER v
PLASTIC
By Mariana Santos Moreira, Wood Mackenzie Senior Research Analyst
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PAPER v PLASTIC
Like many other major plastics applications, plastics use in flexible packaging has come under deep scrutiny in recent years as sustainability concerns rise and spread globally. Paper is often lauded as a far more environmentally friendly alternative but how do the two materials really compare? And what is the most sustainable solution? Historically, paper have been used in flexible packaging for many applications, including confectionery, pet food and dried food. By the early-2000s, however, paper demand as a flexible packaging substrate began to decline due to competition from down-gauging and the rise of plastic alternatives. Wood Mackenzie’s global flexible packaging market analysis puts the market size for converter supplied flexible packaging at roughly $90 billion in 2018 and $93 billion in 2019. Plastic-based value-added flexible packaging, i.e. converter supplied, accounts for roughly 93% of total consumption, compared to paper/board-based flexible packaging which accounts for about 5%.
Paper vs plastic: comparing green credentials After many years of declining demand, paper-based flexible packaging is growing in popularity with the general public as end-consumers demand more sustainable packaging solutions. Consumers today widely view paper as a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. A European consumer preferences survey, commissioned by Two Sides in 2020, concluded that 62% of consumers see paper and cardboard packaging as better for the environment. Additionally, 70% of consumers surveyed said they were actively taking steps to reduce their use of plastic packaging. Comparing green credentials isn’t as straightforward as some would think, however. Paper is far more biodegradable than plastic and very easily recycled. But it often ends up in landfill, where its degradation rate slows – while it takes up more space than the same weight of plastic. Additionally, paper-based 44
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flexible packaging is often laminated with plastic/aluminium or coated with resin, therefore becoming non-recyclable. Plastic’s properties make plastic packaging ideally suited for efficiently containing and protecting products during shipment and delivery to customers. However, despite its advantages, plastic is made of a non-renewable resource, whereas paper is made of trees. Furthermore, plastic can be recycled but it is currently difficult to achieve high levels of post-consumer recycled content in plastics due to postconsumer waste contamination. Conversely, paper is relatively easy to recycle as it can be re-pulped. This means it does not rely on chemical reactions and is less sensitive to contamination. As such, there are some environmental advantages to using paper as a substrate for flexible packaging if it does not increase food waste and/or compromise other properties essential to the packaged product. This has led to some brands replacing plastic packaging with paper.
What does this mean for the plastics industry? Plastic film suppliers and converters are increasingly focusing on sustainable solutions and working towards changing negative public perception. In recent years, there have been efforts to promote more sustainable plasticbased flexible packaging. These include solutions that use a higher percentage of recycled materials all the way through to optimising design for recyclability. In addition to manufacturers and brands acting, the drive for sustainability in packaging is also accelerating at the legislative level. This is particularly true in Europe where transnational EU directives have targeted packaging as part of a new Green New Deal. However, almost all the packaging initiatives that
PAPER v PLASTIC
have been driven by EU targets are exclusively focused on plastics instead of paper.
However, the real focus should be on reducing all singleuse packaging, regardless of the substrate.
They reflect a general sustainability-minded consciousness which is more concerned with end-of-life disposal than a holistic perspective accounting for environmental cost throughout the production and distribution of packaged products.
The way forward for the flexible packaging industry is to introduce better recycling systems, more recyclingfriendly flexible packaging solutions, smaller amounts of substrate per package and a stricter focus on creating a circular economy.
Packaging producers and governments need to accept the nuance of sustainability in packaged goods and push for new priorities across different packaging types in order to create the best solution for the environment.
What’s the most sustainable solution? So, is there a perfect substrate solution? The quick answer is no. Whether paper or plastic is the most sustainable substrate for flexible packaging will largely depend on the application.
Overall, the problem relies not so much on the substrate used but on how much we use and how we process it back into the production cycle. Collaboration between brands, resin producers, recycling companies and converters is key to accelerating progress towards more sustainable flexible packaging solutions. Wood Mackenzie, a Verisk Analytics business, is a trusted source of commercial intelligence for the world’s natural resources sector. We empower clients to make better strategic decisions, providing objective analysis and advice on assets, companies and markets. For more information visit: www.woodmac.com
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SURVEY RESULTS 
The Future of Business Travel It’s not easy predicting the future of travel, let alone at a time of turmoil. However, thanks to a bespoke, in-depth survey of global business traveller sentiment that we believe provides a snapshot of the behaviour and trends for the next 12 to 18 months concerning Business Travellers.
topped trave s llin % 89
89%
11%
elled trav
89% of business travellers around the world stopped travelling with just 11% still travelling when there were travel restrictions
g
% 11
DURING TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
With Business Class being such a vital revenue generator for our industry we have extracted the most relevant finding form the this report which was conducted by Business Traveller and Globetrender in association with American Express Global Business Travel
41% owner/ partners
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55%
17%
increase
travelled
Business travel has increased 55% since travel restrictions were eased
SHORT-HAUL / DOMESTIC
TRAVEL SINCE RESTRICTIONS HAVE EASED
BUSINESS
Of those that did travel for business during this time, 41% were at the most senior levels (owner/partners).
17% have travelled since lockdown travel restrictions eased (mainly short-haul or domestic)
SURVEY RESULTS 
% LESS LIKELY to travel if required to quarantine
85%
91%
at HOME
at DEStINATION
85% would be less likely to travel if they were required ot quarantine when they returned home
91% would be less likely to travel if they were required to quarantine at their destination
How confident are business travellers about travelling in the future?
14% completely confident 34% CONCERNED BUT WOULD TRAVEL 39% CONCERNS NEED CLARIFYING 13% NOT CONFIDENT AT ALL TOP 4 FACTORS WHEN BOOKING A BUSINESS TRIP PRE-PANDEMIC
77% 18% 75% 65%
DURING PANDEMIC
PRICE HEALTH & SAFETY SCHEDULE LOYALTY SCHEME
64% 64% 61% 48% AMENITIESMAGAZINE.COM
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SURVEY RESULTS 
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