Hear how airline flotation devices make our 'Smile File' Story

Until this woman decided to do something about it, old airline flotation devices just went to the landfill once they aged out.  (Photo: Getty Images)

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
This is just really thinking outside thebox. Because of government regulations, the
life jackets under the seats on airplaneshave to be switched out every eight to
ten years. You might wonder whatdoes that have to do with a smile
foul story. Well, up untilnow, those life jackets have mostly just
been discarded and filling up landfills.Airlin Taylor, who works at United Airlines,

(00:20):
wanted to find a creative way toreuse the life jackets, so she
discovered this German company called Bag toLife that specializes in reusing materials and turns
those materials into fun and practical items. So now they're going to live on
as bags for laundry, laptop bags, backpacks, things like that. That's

(00:40):
cool cool. I like that.Yeah. And when they say your flotation
device is under your seat, haveyou ever tried to look for that thing?
Yes? I have. Guess whatwe go down? I ain't finding
it. I could not find thatthing. Where are I? Paul?
What do I do again? What'sgoing on? Sorry? I was ignoring
you. That's a great story.Makes our Smile file story this morning