Other Files Attached file *LUVSeat\_Infographic\_revisions8.jpg\_.pdf* with *pdf* extension available at *https://www.3blmedia.com/sites/default/files/other/LUVSeat\_Infographic\_revisions8.jpg\_.pdf* - link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Southwest Airlines Launches Luv Seat: Repurpose With Purpose https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/48488?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/48488?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/48488?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Southwest Airlines Launches Luv Seat: Repurpose With Purpose&body=ESG News from Southwest Airlines https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/48488?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Responsible Production & Consumption](/CSR-News/responsible-production-consumption-0) # Southwest Airlines Launches Luv Seat: Repurpose With Purpose ##### Upcycling Project Will Transform 43 Acres of Used Leather Seats Jul 15, 2014 12:00 PM ET Campaign: [Project LUV Seat: Repurpose with Purpose](/news/campaign/project-luv-seat-repurpose-purpose) ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/videos/thumbnails/132554/thumbnail-132554_0004.png) ▶ Video ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_2x/s3/images/140710soccer_recycle-11.jpg "Through Southwest Airlines’ Evolve program, a large-scale redesign of all the 737-700 aircraft, the Company replaced the leather seat covers and other interior elements with environmentally friendly materials. The used leather seat covers are being donated to various social enterprises that serve the local community, including Alive & Kicking, who will use the leather to create soccer balls to support education programs that use sports to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and Malaria prevention.") ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/s3/videos/thumbnails/132554/thumbnail-132554_0004.png?h=f7893537) ![](https://3blaws.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/s3/images/140710soccer_recycle-11.jpg?h=1116cd87 "Through Southwest Airlines’ Evolve program, a large-scale redesign of all the 737-700 aircraft, the Company replaced the leather seat covers and other interior elements with environmentally friendly materials. The used leather seat covers are being donated to various social enterprises that serve the local community, including Alive & Kicking, who will use the leather to create soccer balls to support education programs that use sports to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and Malaria prevention.") DALLAS, July 15, 2014 /3BL Media/—[Southwest Airlines](http://www.southwest.com/?src=PRPRPRNLUVSEATREP071514) (NYSE: LUV) announced today the launch of *LUV Seat: Repurpose with Purpose*, a global sustainability initiative to upcycle 43 acres of used leather seat coverings into new products that will benefit communities by providing employment, skills training, and donated products. For more information on the project, visit [www.swamedia.com/luvseat](http://www.swamedia.com/luvseat) or visit Nuts About Southwest to read the blog post [here](http://www.blogsouthwest.com/?p=652911). *LUV Seat: Repurpose with Purpose* was developed following the Company’s *Evolve* program, a large-scale redesign of all 737-700 aircraft, a portion of its 737-300 fleet, and is now standard on all new planes. The *Evolve* program replaced the leather seat covers and other interior elements with environmentally friendly materials. Through this redesign, Southwest reduced the weight of each aircraft by more than 600 pounds. *LUV Seat* is an innovative upcycling project born from the *Evolve* program. By donating the used leather for social impact and keeping it out of landfills, Southwest Airlines is reinforcing its commitment to long-term global sustainable business operations and positioning itself as a leader in corporate responsibility. “The *Evolve* redesign was a major milestone in supporting our sustainability goals,” said Bill Tiffany, Vice President Supply Chain Management at Southwest Airlines. “But we didn’t want to stop there—with the pilot of *LUV Seat* in Nairobi, Malawi, and the United States, we’re embarking on a new vision of social impact through training, job creation, and ultimately product donation. We look forward to identifying additional partners through a call to action, using the hashtag #LUVSEAT, for our Employees, Customers, and the general public to share their ideas of how we should upcycle the remaining leather.” These initiatives are the first phase of a multi-year campaign to re-use Southwest’s leather through upcycling projects around the world. The project partners aim to better people’s lives and raise industry standards for the environment and communities in which they operate. In Nairobi, Kenya (the project’s pilot location), **SOS Children’s Villages Kenya,** the primary non-profit partner that serves orphaned children and families in need, along with **Alive & Kicking**, **Masaai Treads**, and **Life Beads Kenya,** will use the leather to produce goods for distribution to local community groups. “We are pleased to join with Southwest Airlines and thank them for launching the *LUV Seat: Repurpose with Purpose* program to benefit SOS Children’s Villages in Kenya,” said Lynn Croneberger, CEO of SOS Children’s Villages – USA. “It’s a fantastic, innovative program that will help make a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable women and children and the local community.” Through the partnership, SOS youth will receive paid apprenticeships and training to make shoes and soccer balls from the leather. When completed, the shoes will be distributed as part of an anti-jigger campaign. The upcycled soccer balls will be donated to support education programs that use sports to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and Malaria prevention. One recipient of the donated products is Cura Orphanage, a residence for children who have lost their parents to AIDS. Cura Orphanage is sponsored by Creative Visions Foundation, a non-profit that supports media and the arts to affect change in the world. Local partners Gina Din Foundation and GoodMaker Films worked with Southwest to develop the on-the-ground partnerships. **Other partners include, TeamLift, Inc.** a U.S.-based nonprofit whose mission is to transform the lives of women and children in Sub-Saharan Africa. At a boarding school facility currently under construction in Malawi, **TeamLift** will develop a leather works training program that will teach important entrepreneurial skills while generating proceeds that will support the school. In the United States, **Looptworks**, a Portland, Ore., based design company that rescues premium excess materials to design and produce sustainable goods will upcycle *LUV Seat* leather into limited edition, high-quality merchandise as part of Southwest’s celebration of the end of the Wright Amendment in Dallas. Through partnering with Looptworks, Southwest will create needed jobs in a region that has been hard hit by the downturn in the economy. **Media Contact:** Multi-Media Assets and other Company news at [**swamedia.com**](http://www.swamedia.com/) Media Relations Team: 214-792-4847 [![](/sites/default/files/Clients/Southwest_online_rgb2_2.jpg)](/profiles/southwest-airlines) ### More from Southwest Airlines ###### [Southwest Airlines Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month ](/news/southwest-airlines-celebrates-hispanic-heritage-month) Sep 17, 2015 7:40 PM ET ###### [Southwest Airlines College Internships Evolve to Campus Reach](/news/southwest-airlines-college-internships-evolve-campus-reach) Aug 18, 2015 1:30 PM ET ###### [Southwest Airlines Updates Reusable Car Seat and Stroller Bags](/news/southwest-airlines-updates-reusable-car-seat-and-stroller-bags) Jul 15, 2015 10:00 AM ET ###### [Southwest Airlines Celebrates LGBT Pride Month](/news/southwest-airlines-celebrates-lgbt-pride-month) Jul 2, 2015 6:30 PM ET ###### [Southwest Airlines Honors Fallen Soldiers on Memorial Day and Pays Tribute to our Nation’s Greatest Generation](/news/southwest-airlines-honors-fallen-soldiers-memorial-day-and-pays-tribute-our-nations-greatest) May 26, 2015 11:50 AM ET ###### [The 2014 Southwest Airlines One Report Recaps an Epic Year Showcasing the Carrier’s Commitment to the Triple Bottom Line of Performance, People, and Planet](/news/2014-southwest-airlines-one-report-recaps-epic-year-showcasing-carriers-commitment-triple) May 19, 2015 6:00 PM ET ###### [Southwest Airlines Honors Proud Tradition of Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month](/news/southwest-airlines-honors-proud-tradition-celebrating-asian-pacific-american-heritage-month) May 7, 2015 4:30 PM ET ###### [Southwest Heart of the Community Program Makes Great Spaces in More Places! ](/news/southwest-heart-community-program-makes-great-spaces-more-places) Apr 27, 2015 4:00 PM ET