Source | Diehl Aviation

Diehl Aviation (Überlingen, Germany) has been awarded the Crystal Cabin Award in the Sustainable Cabin category for its matured Eco Bin concept, a fully recyclable composite overhead stowage compartment (OHSC) focusing on sustainability and efficiency in aircraft cabin design.

The Crystal Cabin Award’s Sustainable Cabin category honors innovations that redefine environmental responsibility in aircraft interiors. Entries in this category focus on reducing CO? emissions, minimizing waste and enhancing resource efficiency while maintaining a high level of passenger comfort and experience.

Diehl’s Eco Bin simplifies dismantling and recycling with the use of two primary materials: fiber-reinforced thermoplastics for the structure and metal for the hardware (such as handles, hinges and screws) — eliminating use of glue or adhesives and complex multi-material components. More specifically, the OHSC structure consists of a thermoplastic sandwich featuring organosheets and thermoplastic core. According to Diehl, the thermoplastic sandwich has a low CO2 equivalent compared to currently used versions.

At their end of life — or up to 20 years, Diehl told Aviation Week — Eco Bins can be shredded, melted down and repurposed into other aircraft interior parts, such as brackets or as parts of window frames.

During production, this materials use reduces waste by two-thirds, and is manufactured through an energy-efficient continuous process, which accelerates production compared to traditional methods.