British low-cost carrier easyJet is tackling the cost-of-living crisis in the United Kingdom head-on by donating some of its old crew uniforms to provide free school clothing to children in need. The airline is based in Luton, where child poverty is a particularly severe issue, and it hopes that, by providing its old uniforms for use in schools, it will be able to help local families deal with the financial strain.
School uniform items typically cost hundreds of pounds a year per child, and, as such, they can represent a considerable economic outlay for families, especially with a child’s growth meaning that such components rarely last more than a few years. While Luton is planned as the rollout location for this initiative, easyJet has also set its sights on other UK bases, and even those located further afield in Europe.
easyJet’s New Charitable Initiative
Today, easyJet has announced that, as it completes its uniform update, it will be donating thousands of its old garments to help relieve the financial pressure on families needing to provide their children with school clothing. According to the airline, some 58% of households in the UK are struggling with this pressure, and 35% are “having to sacrifice household essentials to make ends meet” with uniform.
Additionally, 19% of UK households are reported to have had to use overdrafts or credit cards in order to be able to pay for new school uniforms. As such, the carrier has teamed up with Level Trust as part of its latest charitable initiative. Like easyJet, Level Trust is based in Luton, an area where 45% of children are estimated to live in poverty. Michael Brown, the Director of Cabin Services at easyJet, explained:
“Our aim for this first phase is both to support parents who are facing financial hardships as well as reduce our textile waste. Our crew uniforms have always represented care, professionalism, and unity.”
Saving Hundreds Of Pounds
The research commissioned by easyJet in relation to the launch of its latest charitable initiative found that parents spend an average of £255 ($334) a year per child on school uniform items. This equates to £3,072 ($4,095.50) across a child’s entire school career, with the issues exacerbated by the need to replace items quicker than expected. Indeed, 53% of parents buy replacement items before the first term ends.
easyJet’s research suggests that there would be no stigma related to wearing second-hand or upcycled uniforms, with “80% of Brits [saying] they would like to see more businesses repurposing retired materials such as uniforms into items to support local communities.” Elsewhere, 66% said they would consider second-hand or upcycled options, with 93% being in favor of a more flexible approach to school uniforms.
To mark the start of the scheme, easyJet is making an initial donation in conjunction with the October half term, when demand for uniform items typically spikes. Level Trust will subsequently use this stock to provide “shirts, skirts, blazer jackets, and trousers (…) for older year students living in the area who are in need of new items.” The firm currently works with 75 different schools in and around the Luton area.
The Initiative Will Eventually Be Rolled Out To Other easyJet Bases
With London Luton Airport (LTN) being easyJet’s home base as well as, sadly, located in a worrying hotspot for child poverty, there could be no better place to start the rollout of this initiative. However, the cost-of-living crisis isn’t confined to Hertfordshire, so more bases are on the cards.
Indeed, easyJet says that it will also bring a similar initiative to its base at London Gatwick (LGW) later this year, with wider growth in Europe planned for 2026. It concludes that “76% of British parents would like to see more government-backed community initiatives (…) rolled out on a national scale.”
Over the years, various airlines around the world have upcycled their old uniforms for good causes. For instance, in May 2020, United Airlines turned such garments into face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while Finnair has recycled its old uniforms into park benches. In August of 2023, Korean Air also announced that it would be turning some of its old uniforms into upcycled first aid kits amid a sustainability drive.
