NARITA, Chiba — The ground handling company affiliated with major airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) at Narita Airport has produced tags and keychains using wooden blocks previously employed for stabilizing airplane wheels.
Even though they are crafted from robust timber, these chocks are usually thrown away within roughly twelve months because of their deteriorated condition. This project was initiated by junior employees who aimed to repurpose these "unrecognized guardians" of security.
The chocks stand approximately 14 centimeters tall, 16 centimeters wide, and extend for 60 centimeters in length, each weighing roughly 6.8 kilograms. Annually, these chocks shed more than one kilogram of their original mass; notably, around 150 units sourced solely from Narita Airport were discarded as refuse through incineration. Keisuke Nakamura, a 36-year-old staff member within the planning division, suggested utilizing this material as part of an eco-friendly campaign aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Commencing in June 2023, Nakamura collaborated closely with five associates to investigate viable design concepts alongside his ex-colleague’s carpentry firm, all whilst drafting formal internal recommendations.
The tags, crafted to look like airline tickets, have dimensions of 6.9 cm x 3.4 cm and a depth of 0.6 cm. Meanwhile, the keychains featuring a runway design are sized at 7.1 cm x 1.5 cm with a similar thickness of 0.6 cm. In total, 600 pieces were manufactured for use in ANA group companies’ community engagement and recruitment initiatives.
“Whether it’s raining or windy, the wheel chocks help secure airplanes under various weather conditions,” explained Joji Miyamoto, 43, who works in the airport policy promotion division of the general affairs department. “I hope they can also serve as lucky charms.” Nakamura chimed in, saying, “Since these chocks have been aiding air travel, I’m eager to develop additional products that people would treasure for years, much like keepsakes.”
(Originally written in Japanese by Tsukimi Goda, Narita Bureau)
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