What happens to old airline uniforms? Air Canada explains

There is often a lot of attention surrounding new airline uniforms. But what happens to the old ones? More and more airlines are finding ways to give retired uniforms a second life. Air Canada recently revealed exactly what happens to its old uniforms, and it is far from a simple process.

Op zoek naar de Nederlandse versie? Je vindt hem op return their uniforms

Air Canada old uniforms

At the Canadian airline, employees are required to return their uniforms once they are no longer in use. This applies not only to cabin crew but to all employees. Once the garments are returned, each item is individually assessed. Based on its condition, a decision is made about what will happen to the textile.

Rewear: old Air Canada uniforms are worn again

If a garment has only been lightly used, it is cleaned and made available to employees again.

This may sound like a logical choice, but it is not common practice everywhere.

Some employees are reluctant to wear second-hand clothing, while some employers prefer to avoid it as well. They may fear complaints from staff and worry about being held responsible rather than the uniform supplier. Following the lawsuits involving Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, those concerns may not be entirely unfounded.

Donate: donating old uniforms

When garments are still in good condition but are no longer suitable for use as uniforms, Air Canada donates them to Brands for Canada.

This organisation collects clothing and other products for people in need. It supports students and families facing difficult circumstances. To date, Brands for Canada has helped more than one million people. In addition to Air Canada, the organisation receives clothing and products from companies such as L’Oréal, H&M, Zara and IKEA.

Transform and repurpose: old Air Canada uniforms become something new

Air Canada sends worn or outdated uniforms to Debrand for recycling and upcycling. The company turns the textiles into new products and materials, giving them a second life.

During the recycling process, Debrand breaks down garments and uses the raw materials to create new products. Upcycling takes a different approach. Instead of breaking down the materials, the company uses existing products to create something with a higher value.

Debrand uses textile fibres for a variety of applications, including furniture filling. The company also turned 150 cotton T-shirts into 300 cleaning cloths.

Together, Debrand and Brands for Canada help Air Canada keep thousands of kilograms of textiles in circulation. In 2025 alone, the airline donated approximately 4,500 kilograms (10,000 pounds) of textiles to the two organisations.

Recycling old uniforms is not simple

Air Canada’s approach shows that recycling uniforms is not always straightforward, at least not if you want to do it properly.

Of course, companies can choose to mechanically recycle all garments into fibres. In the Netherlands, for example, companies such as Frankenhuis mechanically pull old clothing apart and reuse the fibres in products such as automotive insulation and filling materials.

However, when a company uses uniforms on a large scale, immediately recycling everything into fibres can be a missed opportunity. Companies can give textiles a second life in many different ways. If garments are still wearable, it often makes more sense to help someone else with them rather than turn them directly into raw materials.

Whenever a new uniform is introduced, these questions become important. Airline employees at EasyJet recently received new uniforms. The airline chose to donate garments that were still in good condition to organisations that help people prepare for job interviews and find employment.

Ultimately, that is the goal: finding the right destination for the right clothing.

Want to read more about recycling workwear and uniforms?

Also check:

• Dutch workwear and PPE manufacturers launch joint recycling project
• DHL creates accessories from old company clothing

Kind regards,

Aileen