Upcycling at scale is not only possible, but powerful

Female staff in India gathered in semi-circle outside, greenery all around, dressed in multi-coloured saris with palms together in Namaste pose.

In this SustMeme Guest Post, Dr R Sri Ram, Founder of the Bags of Ethics label run by Supreme Creations, explains why textile upcycling at scale is about much more than simply stitching something old into something new.

SR: For decades, the textile industry has operated in a linear fashion: we make, we use, we dispose.

As the world’s largest responsible manufacturer of reusable products, we at Bags of Ethics have made it our mission to break that cycle — to change how textiles are produced; turning waste into value.

Today, I’m very proud to share a story that shows that upcycling at scale is not only possible, but powerful — environmentally, socially, and commercially. Upcycling is finally clear for take-off, sustainably.

Circular innovation in textiles

In partnership with British Airways, we took on a challenge many considered too complex or unscalable: upcycling thousands of decommissioned airline uniforms into beautifully designed, practical new products.

These high-quality garments were rich in heritage but became functionally obsolete after the launch of the airline’s new uniform by designer Ozwald Boateng in 2023.

This could have been a landfill story but instead, it has become a landmark initiative in circular innovation, helping drive long-term change in global textile manufacturing.

Turning waste into value

Three smiling female factory workers in lilac overalls, with ID badges, hair covered, facing camera with hands on garments on counter in front. — *At the women-led advanced manufacturing facility in Pondicherry, India, over 80% of Supreme Creations’ workforce is female*

Together with British Airways – under their BA Better World sustainability programme — we set out to deliver on four key sustainability goals:

divert waste from landfill,;
enable circular reuse;
empower workers; and
create a blueprint for broader industry action.

So, what was the result?

Well, so far we have seen over eight tonnes of textile waste diverted, thousands of upcycled products created, and a new benchmark set for sustainable production in complex supply chains.

At the heart of this initiative is our women-led facility in Pondicherry, India — where over 80% of our workforce are women. Here, we trained staff in advanced disassembly and remanufacturing techniques.

The research and development that has gone into the project has been extensive: from understanding how to collect items, sort them, transport and custom-clear them; to working out how to disassemble, re-design, and then re-assemble them using creative patterns and reducing waste.

Our team have learned new skills that will help drive long-term change in global textile manufacturing.

Through their craft and skill, old uniforms became new document holders, luggage tags, and picnic blankets — durable items that carry both the legacy of British Airways and the future of sustainable design.

Infrastructure of change

Achieving upcycling at scale is not about simply stitching something old into something new. It requires infrastructure, investment, and a belief in doing business differently.

We developed new sorting technology, pattern design systems, and sewing techniques to ensure the process was not only scalable, but repeatable — key to mainstreaming circularity in manufacturing.

We also worked with government authorities to ensure global supply chains can cope with finished garments imported by different countries, upcycled, then exported — not seen by customs as ‘dumping’.

By finding value in waste, we have created new revenue streams and employment opportunities while reducing environmental impact — a true win-win-win situation for triple-bottom-line sustainability.

Bigger picture, broader impact

This initiative is more than a corporate sustainability exercise; it is a practical, scalable model for other organisations in high-uniform sectors such as retail, hospitality, transport, and logistics. By embedding circularity into operations, British Airways and Bags of Ethics have demonstrated how businesses can transform waste challenges into brand, social, and environmental assets.

From a bigger picture perspective, this project isn’t just about uniforms, either.

It is about proving that with the right partners, the right intentions, and the right investment, circularity can be achieved — even in traditionally linear sectors like aviation and textiles.

It’s also about confronting the global textile waste crisis. According to Waste Recycling Action Programme (WRAP), the UK discards 1.45 million tonnes of textiles every year.

But what if hospitality, retail, and logistics companies followed British Airways’ example by giving legacy materials a second life? The environmental impact could be significant. And this approach isn’t limited to these sectors, it’s a blueprint any industry can follow, the possibilities are vast.

Inspiration into action

At Bags of Ethics, we don’t see sustainability as a side project. It is embedded in everything we do; from our supply chain transparency to our responsibly sourced materials and female empowerment.

Our collaboration with British Airways is a perfect example of what happens when brands are bold enough to act, not just promise. It demonstrates that sustainability can be beautiful, functional, and meaningful.

My hope from this initiative is that industries with high uniform turnover, textile waste, or surplus materials are now aware that upcycling at scale is achievable. We did it; and so can you.

My team and I would be delighted to share our insights with you.

Success will come to brands that act like responsible citizens, not just businesses with only profit targets to hit.

Portrait of Dr R Sri Ram seated in brown wood chair, with dark green leaves behind, dressed in blue suit and white shirt, with yellow and blue stripe tie.

Working to bring behavioural change from single-use to reuse, Dr R Sri Ram is a first-generation entrepreneur and has 40 years of management and leadership experience. With an honours degree in business and management, plus PhD in leadership studies, he founded Supreme Creations Group in the UK, in 1999, for the eco-packaging industry. The Group has gone on to build advanced manufacturing facilities in South India and open sales offices in the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany. In the early 2000s, Supreme Creations worked with major supermarket brands in the UK to produce reusable bag alternatives to the single-use plastic ban. Now one of the largest manufacturers in its field, the Group has developed into a strong team of hundreds of designers, creators and makers. Its Bags of Ethics label promotes reusable behaviour through exceptional design. Sri Ram also founded the Wings of Hope Children’s Charity in 2003, to support children and young people in India, Malawi, and the UK. In June 2025, Sri Ram was announced as the Chair of the UK-India Creative Circle. A long-time licensed pilot, he is the author of the 2024 book Change-Slow and Fast.

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