When it was unveiled in the summer of 2007, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was said to be the future of air travel. Not only was it one of the largest passenger jets ever created, it was also Boeing's most fuel-efficient aircraft thanks to their incorporation of composite materials into the primary support structure... also known as carbon fiber.
Yesterday, it was announced that Washington-based Boeing has teamed up with Illinois-based sports gear brand Russell Athletics to repurpose all that leftover carbon fiber into protective athletic gear for football players. The CarbonTek-branded football shoulder pad system will be the first time that leftover airplane material will be used to create carbon fiber-based athletic gear.
In the case of football shoulder pads, the decision to use carbon fiber -- regardless if it was repurposed from Boeing or not -- makes perfect sense due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and resistance to high impact. These traits have translated well to other industries as well ranging from performance race cars to fishing rods.
The partnership with Russell is an example of Boeing's attempts to reduce their overall carbon footprint by selling off their large surplus of manufacturing waste. When considering the sheer size of the products that they make, its safe to say that there is a lot of extra material hanging around that would otherwise end up in a dumpster.
In the case of carbon fiber on the 787, this is especially true due to the fact that it makes up at least 50 percent of the primary structure.
Boeing is one of the top companies when it comes to understanding their place in the realm of green business and sustainability.
"We are continually researching new, innovative technologies to improve our company's and our industry's environmental performance. That includes improving operational efficiency for our customers with digital tools; using advanced, lightweight materials and improved aerodynamics to reduce our products' fuel consumption; developing and commercializing new sustainable fuel sources; developing hybrid, solar and electric-powered aircraft; accelerating the efficiency of our facilities; and working with institutions, governments and stakeholders to build cleaner communities worldwide," Boeing stated in their 2014 Environmental Report.
The CarbonTek pads are expected to be put in use during the upcoming 2014 NFL season.
It will be one of the prime examples of how innovative sports apparel companies are leveraging futuristic materials into their designs while staying green at the same time.
"With the CarbonTek system, I immediately felt a lot more explosive. It does an excellent job taking away the bulk and gives me a lot more range of motion. I love how the OS Technology vest fits, it's very snug and light. I also didn't feel much of the impact when I had big collisions, it doesn't jeopardize protection and still helps me maintain the speed I need to perform at my best. I look forward to taking these pads to the next level throughout the 2014 NFL season," says NFL running back Mark Ingram.
