To promote sustainable living and make a positive impact on local communities, Emirates gave its old advertising billboards in Nigeria a new purpose, transforming the PVC Flex material into hundreds of reusable bags.

The advertising banners collected from Lagos and Abuja, were upcycled - the heavy-duty, PVC Flex material was used to produce school bags and carryalls that were donated to students of two schools in Lagos.

In time for the start of the new academic year, two Nigerian entrepreneurs were commissioned to produce 200 school bags and 100 tote bags using the recycled billboard material. The school bags were presented to children from MAYOM Wisdom Academy and Ken Ade Primary School, both located in Makoko, Lagos.

The school bags were given out to primary school students between the ages of five and nine years, while the tote bags were given to the teachers. Also included in the bags were stationery and activity books from Emirates’ on-board products for children.

The PVC Flex material is durable, strong, water resistant, tough, and light-weighted, having good colour fastness. These qualities will ensure the bags serve the recipients for a relatively long time.