Air Canada gives uniforms second life through sustainability programs

Air Canada is turning a routine part of airline operations—employee uniforms—into an opportunity for environmental responsibility.

With thousands of employees wearing the airline’s recognizable Rondelle, the company has developed a system to ensure the garments don’t end up as waste when they reach the end of their usable life.

In recognition of Earth Day on Wednesday (April 22), Air Canada highlighted how its uniforms move through a sustainable lifecycle.

Rather than discarding old clothing, the airline has built a circular approach focused on reuse and recycling, reads a press release. 

Each returned item is evaluated and directed into one of four dedicated programs: Rewear, Donate, Transform, Repurpose.

Uniform pieces that are still in good condition are cleaned and redistributed to employees at no cost through the Rewear program.

This not only reduces waste but also helps employees access necessary items more easily.

For surplus items that are new but no longer part of the current uniform lineup, Air Canada partners with Brands for Canada.

This organization redistributes clothing to families in need through a network of charities and schools, ensuring that unused garments serve a meaningful purpose.

Items that are too worn or damaged to be worn again are handled through a different channel.

These are sent to Debrand, a company specializing in textile recycling and upcycling.

Materials are broken down and repurposed into new products, such as stuffing for furniture. In the past year alone, Air Canada diverted approximately 4,500 kilograms (10,000 pounds) of garments through its partnerships with Debrand and Brands for Canada.

“It’s always worthwhile to send back an item you no longer need, since some of our programs are very specific,” stated Charlène Lohezic, marketing advisor – Uniform Employee Experience, in a press release. “For example, we launched a cotton-to-rags program last year to transform 100 per cent cotton t-shirts into cleaning supplies for Maintenance. So far, we’ve received about 150 t-shirts and made more than 300 rags.”