IF you've ever wondered what happens to those little plastic bags which your headphones come wrapped in on an aeroplane, you may need to find a new issue to pontificate.

For Stanley-based recycled furniture manufacturer Marmax Products have just completed a contract for Virgin to turn in-flight headphone bags into picnic benches for the companys head office.

The County Durham company has supplied 20 picnic benches and a hexagonal tree seat to the airlines head office in Crawley, near Gatwick Airport. The seating is all red to match Virgin's corporate colour scheme.

Tracey Scott, Marmax's sales and marketing manager, said: "Virgin is known as a forward-thinking business and one which prides itself on being a great place to work. The company also uses recycled products wherever possible.

"Marmax furniture is totally in line with these values. The funky outdoor seating not only gives a welcoming and fun feel to the grounds of Virgin's head office, it has also saved a considerable amount of waste plastic material from going to landfill.

"Unlike wooden outdoor furniture, it is completely maintenance free and can be left outdoors all year round without having to worry about weather damage."