June 27 2025  |  Amenities & Comfort

Elegance without excess: Suppliers examine how amenity sector tackles waste without sacrificing style

By Jane Hobson

This is a special feature from the June/July 2025 Amenities & Comfort digital issue of PAX International, on page 20.


Facilitated by FORMIA, Qatar Airways’ amenity kits with renowned French perfumier Diptyque introduce collectibles with every release

Luxury in the skies is getting a green makeover. Once defined by glossy packaging and plush disposables, the world of airline amenities is now embracing a quieter kind of prestige—one shaped by sustainability, smart design and second-life purpose. From biodegradable packaging and circularity initiatives to amenity kits that double as handbags, suppliers across the industry are proving that thoughtful, low-impact products can still deliver the elevated experience travelers expect.

FORMIA, Linstol, Plane Talking Products and Procurall Solutions shared insights with PAX International, each presenting strategies to reduce plastic, packaging and post-flight waste—while continuing to deliver refined comfort and thoughtful detail.

Redefining premium through purpose
At FORMIA, the transformation of luxury amenities begins with intentionality. The supplier has adopted a comprehensive design ethos that values aesthetic refinement and environmental responsibility in equal measure.

“Sustainability is not a compromise to luxury—it is part of its evolution,” says Sarah Klatt-Walsh, Sustainability Lead at FORMIA. “Today’s travelers, particularly in premium cabins, increasingly expect elevated experiences that align with their values.”


Sarah Klatt-Walsh, Sustainability Lead, FORMIA

To reduce reliance on single-use plastics, FORMIA has replaced polybags with recycled paper bands for items like slippers and eye masks, introduced recycled and FSC-certified kraft paper packaging across the majority of its kits, and transitioned to sustainable materials for accessories including combs and earplugs.

FORMIA’s amenity kits are designed for a second life. A focus on improving the quality of every item—such as branded socks with reinforced heels, ribbed cuffs and a double layer construction that matches the standard passengers expect from retail—further encourages reuse.

“We design our amenity kits not as disposable items but as opportunities to extend the travel experience beyond the cabin and into daily life—encouraging longer use and lasting value,” says Freddie Rollason, Senior Sustainability Manager.

Facilitated by FORMIA, EVA Air’s collaboration with Hunter delivers amenity bags that double as sleek passport holders, while Qatar Airways’ kits with Diptyque introduce fresh collectibles with every release. The kits are not only functional but desirable, intended to be reused, regifted or cherished.



Freddie Rollason, Senior Sustainability Manager, FORMIA

Beyond design, FORMIA works closely with airlines and brand partners to embed sustainability across the entire value chain. This includes conducting supplier and factory audits, analyzing lifecycle data to inform material and packaging decisions, highlighting trade-offs to support lower-impact production methods, and fostering partnerships with purpose-driven brands.

“We do not see sustainability as a checkbox,” says Rollason. “It is a chance to build future-focused collaborations that reflect the values of today’s travelers.”

Engineering out waste
Linstol’s sustainability strategy centers on eliminating waste at the source—reimagining it not as a problem, but as potential. Always at the cutting edge, the company continually seeks innovative ways to transform waste into opportunity. Linstol’s AquaThread fabric is made with discarded oyster shells and recycled plastic bottles, and the company is also looking into new materials, such as banana waste, where the thick pseudostem of the banana plant—discarded or burned during harvest—can be transformed into biodegradable cutlery, trash bags and food containers.

“This material is a natural by-product of the farming industry,” explains Steve Wickham, Global Head of ESG. “Banana waste products allow airlines to demonstrate waste reduction and a reduced carbon footprint while aligning with Sustainable Development Goals.”


Steve Wickham, Global Head of ESG, Linstol

Linstol is also pioneering the use of Social Plastic, a recycled material sourced through a partnership with Plastic Bank. The initiative not only helps airlines reduce virgin plastic usage but supports vulnerable coastal communities by creating economic opportunities through plastic collection.

“We are now working with a number of airlines to integrate Social Plastic into their onboard offerings,” says Wickham.

To ensure quality remains uncompromised, Linstol balances Social Plastic content with virgin plastic in amenity kits and headsets, optimizing for both durability and appearance. But the company’s innovation goes beyond materials. With a goal of Net Zero by 2040, Linstol is reimagining post-flight waste strategies.

This includes replacing plastic packaging with recyclable paper cards, partnering with MNH Sustainable Cabin Services for kit collection and repair, and designing all products with secondary uses in mind.

“Airlines should select products that include recycled content and are recyclable, compostable or reusable at end of life—and ensure materials come with third-party certifications to verify origin,” Wickham advises.


Through its partnership with Plastic Bank, Linstol helps airlines cut down on virgin plastic while creating economic opportunities for coastal communities by turning collected plastic waste into a valuable resource

Circular thinking
At Plane Talking Products (PTP), focus is put on the latest consumer and design trends, and data-driven decision-making guides every sustainable innovation. The company integrates life cycle analysis from the start of each project to identify carbon hotspots and inform material and design choices.

“Passengers have become more informed about the effects of greenwashing and are increasingly savvy about onboard products. At PTP we develop products that we can believe in, that is why we employ life cycle analysis to inform us of the true impact of our product development choices and in turn help us drive down environmental impact while aligning with airline sustainability targets,” Managing Director Richard Wake tells PAX International.


Richard Wake, Managing Director, Plane Talking Products

A result of this approach is PTP’s fully biodegradable amenity kit, developed with Scence. Every detail—from bamboo toothbrush bristles to organic cotton pouches—has been considered to eliminate plastic. Innovations extend to using fabrics derived from pineapple leaves and cork.

“Even zippers and tags are plastic-free,” adds Design Manager Bryony Koziol. “The packaging is not just recyclable—it is 100 percent domestically compostable.”

The company’s recent collaboration with JPA Design further illustrates how luxury and sustainability can co-exist. In Premium Economy, soft RPET jersey sleeping kits eliminate external packaging and attach directly to the seat back. In Business Class, magnetically integrated mattress toppers remove the need for excess packaging while delivering enhanced comfort.


Bryony Koziol, Design Manager, Plane Talking Products

Sustainability extends to textile innovation too. While bamboo and eucalyptus offer a premium feel, these materials are still being tested as to whether they can withstand frequent industrial laundering.

“We work hand in hand with our manufacturing partners to apply the latest techniques and ensure the materials meet both environmental and operational standards,” says Wake.


Alison Wells, CEO, Plane Talking Products

Post-flight, PTP emphasizes circularity. The company is researching scalable ways to collect and recycle onboard products and is an active member of the Aviation Sustainability Forum (ASF). CEO Alison Wells, a leader in the ASF’s 2023/24 waste audit pilot in Singapore, continues to drive industry-wide change.

“Reducing waste is a collaborative process,” she says. “It requires all stakeholders to get behind a shared vision to make it happen.”


PTP’s biodegradable amenity kit, developed with Scence, is designed to eliminate plastic, from bamboo toothbrush bristles to organic cotton pouches and fabrics derived from pineapple leaves and cork

Designing for second life
At Procurall Solutions, sustainable design begins with rethinking the purpose of every amenity item.

“Reducing single-use plastics is not just a checkbox—it is a design priority,” agrees Jennifer Green, President and Co-Founder.

The company’s kits feature RPET fabric pouches, FSC-certified paper wraps and toothbrushes made from bamboo or wheat straw. Procurall also works with advanced material developers to replace multi-layer sachets with marine-degradable and bio-based laminates.


Jennifer Green, President and Co-Founder, Procurall Solutions

Perhaps most impactful are the subtle cues embedded into the design. QR codes, insert cards and tags inform passengers about the eco-friendly attributes of the kits and encourage continued use at home.

“These design elements create a more meaningful post-flight experience and inspire behavioral change,” says Green.

Procurall has also partnered with Eastman to incorporate Tritan™ Renew—made with 50 percent certified recycled content—into refillable dispensers and cosmetic containers used in airline lounges and lavatories. These efforts support circularity while maintaining premium aesthetics and durability.

Green says Procurall sees each amenity kit as a brand extension tool with long-term value.

“Every material, pouch and message is selected with reuse in mind,” she explains. “This aligns with both ESG goals and the expectations of today’s environmentally conscious traveler.”

Shared vision, global impact
The amenity and comfort supply chain is no longer simply about delivering a luxury experience—it is about delivering lasting value while actively working to reduce waste and environmental impact. Whether through upcycled banana plants, plastic-free textiles or compostable packaging, the industry is showing that premium does not need to be wasteful.

From FORMIA’s bags that embed sustainability across the product lifecycle and Procurall’s biodegradable pouches to PTP’s data-backed design strategies and Linstol’s regenerative materials, the message is clear: airlines have powerful partners ready to help meet sustainability targets without sacrificing passenger satisfaction.

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