Lightweight, durable and designed for everyday use on board, aircraft trolleys accompany our crews on countless flights around the world for many years. Eventually, however, they have to be retired – for example, because certified replacement parts are no longer available or are no longer being manufactured. But just because a trolley is no longer suitable for use on board does not mean it has to be thrown away.

Pilot project for repurposing retired trolleys

Together with Swiss design studio Tale and the Züriwerk Foundation, SWISS is giving retired aircraft trolleys a second life. Former cabin companions are being transformed into unique pieces of furniture that carry their story forward.

The first series of the SWISS Recraft Collection is a pilot project. The goal is to establish a standardized process for repurposing retired trolleys and, in doing so, explore new ways of using existing resources more sustainably.

When imperfections become design

The development of the first trolley series began in 2025 with initial research conducted by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). What started with the question of what could be done with retired trolleys gradually evolved into a concrete concept.

Together with Swiss design studio Tale, SWISS developed a new design for the trolleys. The aim was to consciously preserve their original character. “We wanted to find a way to preserve the signs of use rather than conceal them,” the designers explain. What was once considered a flaw now becomes part of the design.

Larger damage, such as dents and holes, is therefore repaired with specially developed patches, while superficial signs of use remain visible. “Every trolley bears the marks of its everyday life on board and with the catering companies and carries its own unique imperfections.” It is precisely these individual imperfections that make each piece unique.

Design with a story

The design process focused on evolving the familiar trolley without compromising its identity. New drawers and trays create a deliberate contrast with the signs of wear from its previous life. Each piece features three high-quality, powder-coated aluminum drawers in different sizes and in the three standard colors Bordeaux, black and white, as well as a handcrafted oak tray. The result is a piece of furniture that makes the trolley more functional in its new home while preserving its iconic shape.

“Trolleys are optimized down to the smallest detail for use on board and are familiar to almost everyone. This combination of functionality and familiarity makes them an exciting starting point for developing new products,” explains the project team at Tale Design Studio.

A new life for old trolleys

At the Züriwerk Foundation in Bubikon, each trolley is individually refurbished. The Zurich-based social enterprise employs people with and without disabilities, with the goal of reusing as many materials as possible and keeping waste to a minimum.

“It’s wonderful to see how materials that would otherwise have been destined for disposal can be transformed into something new,” says Remi, a specialist in assembly.

The Züriwerk employees also enjoy working on the trolleys. And they often find themselves wondering whether they may have encountered one of these very trolleys on board before. “Sometimes we wonder whether we have seen this exact trolley on board before,” says employee Francesco.

A trolley that once rolled through the aisles of aircraft is transformed into a one-of-a-kind piece, carrying its marks and memories with it. The signs of use remain visible, while the stories continue their journey. Perhaps one of these unique pieces will soon be encountered again – in a living room, office or studio somewhere in the world. Its next chapter has only just begun.

Win one of ten SWISS upcycling trolleys

These trolleys are the first of many to be part of the SWISS Recraft Collection. If you would like to bring one of these unique pieces into your home, you can enter for the chance to win one of 10 trolleys on our social media channels, @flyswiss, during European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW), 21-25 September, 2026. During ESDW, our social media channels will focus on various sustainability topics, including aeroSHARK, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and SWISS Saveurs To Go.

As part of the week, we will be giving away two trolleys from the SWISS Recraft Collection every day.

You can enter until 25 September, 2026, at 23.59 via Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook.