CATIE's “Reuse with Purpose” Program Showcased at U.S. Airport
It is a project by Southwest Airlines that promotes recycling the leather from their airplane seats led by women in Turrialba, Costa Rica.
A showcase of Southwest Airlines' "Reuse with Purpose" program in which CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) is a partner, has a prominent participation in the "Creatively Reimagined: Recycled Art and Design" exhibition inaugurated at Denver International Airport (DEN), United States.
The "Creatively Reimagined" exhibition brings together designers, artists and organizations that promote sustainable practices transforming waste into pieces of art, fashion and functional objects. The materials range from recycled plastics to repurposed textiles demonstrating how imagination can turn waste into extraordinary creations.
The "Reuse with Purpose" project focuses on training women and men from rural communities to transform discarded materials into useful and artistic products. Southwest Airlines provides leather retired from their airplane seats, allowing participants to learn how to work with leather and establish their own businesses, while also preventing waste from reaching landfills.
Carlos Umaña, Yamileth Benavides and the social enterprise WEARSOS are showcasing their works in this prestigious exhibition, an achievement that not only highlights Costa Rican talent but also positions CATIE and its sustainability efforts on an international stage. Eliecer Vargas, Coordinator of the Sustainable Tourism Unit and the "Reuse with Purpose" program, expressed his enthusiasm: "Our mission has always been to train people and support them in creating marketable products. Thanks to the creativity of our people in Turrialba, we are now also producing art. Seeing the CATIE logo in a high-traffic area like Denver Airport until October is a great achievement."
Art and Recycling
Carlos Umaña, one of the participating artists, shared his experience about how he developed in the world of leather and how satisfying it has been for his life. For 40 years, he had his clothing workshop in Turrialba and one day he decided to close its doors to discover another world.
“A year ago, I was invited to work with leather, something completely new to me. As a fashion designer, it was a significant change but very rewarding. Seeing one of my garments exhibited in the United States is a dream come true. This project has not only allowed me to explore new techniques but also to contribute to recycling, a topic I am deeply passionate about.”
The "Creatively Reimagined: Recycled Art and Design" exhibition will be open until October 2024 and is distributed across several points in the airport, including Ansbacher Hall and various locations such as the east and west baggage claim areas. Visitors can admire the diversity of media and techniques used to give new life to materials that were once considered waste, inspiring others to see the value in what would otherwise have become trash.
With this initiative, Denver International Airport not only demonstrates its commitment to sustainability through its art program but also celebrates the creativity and ingenuity of artists and organizations from around the world, including Costa Rican artists with the valuable contribution of CATIE.
If you want to learn more about the 'Repurpose with Purpose' project and the contributions CATIE makes globally visit our website:
https://www.catie.ac.cr/2024/06/04/programa-reutilizar-con-proposito-del-catie-se-expone-en-aeropuerto-de-estados-unidos/
Written by: Esteban Rodríguez Zamora.
Edited by: Estefanie Ramirez Brenes.