easyJet expands its unified donation program | News
Following a successful rollout to schoolchildren in late 2025 through the Level Trust, easyJet has expanded its crew uniform donation programme, aiming to provide job seekers with smart, professional clothing for job interviews, work and everyday use.
According to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released this week, unemployment rose sharply by 5.2%, the highest level in almost five years, leaving almost two million people aged 16 and over out of work. And yet there are currently an estimated 734,000 vacancies in Britain. New research from easyJet shows that a lack of access to smart workwear is a major factor in creating this inequality, one that is often overlooked but actually prevents many people from seeking and securing employment.
This is why easyJet aims to reuse thousands of garments, including trousers, shirts, jumpers, blazers and jackets, and is now focusing on supporting job seekers struggling with the high cost of smart workwear.
This situation shows that seven in ten respondents (71%) say the high cost of smart workwear prevents them from purchasing suitable clothing for job interviews and working life. As a result, 57% feel disadvantaged in the job market due to a lack of access to suitable workwear, with almost half (46%) admitting that concerns about their appearance have negatively affected their job application performance, leading to negative outcomes.
Furthermore, more than four in five people (83%) agree that access to appropriate workwear would make it easier to present confidently during job interviews, while almost nine in ten (89%) believe that having appropriate workwear will increase their chances of getting a job.
The high demand for reused work clothing and the scale of the problem shows that 79% would be willing to wear second-hand work clothing if it was in good condition and offered for free.
In an effort to tackle this inequality, easyJet will be working with charities across Britain in areas close to major airports, starting with Luton-based charity NOAH Enterprise, which supported more than 1,000 people in 2025 alone.
Lahiru Ranasinghe, sustainability director at easyJet, said:
“This initiative started with a simple goal: to reduce waste by diverting our uniforms from landfill and repurposing as many items as possible for reuse. What we didn’t expect was the strong demand for these items, the different ways they would be used and the impact they could have, including increasing people’s chances of securing jobs.
“Recent unemployment figures reveal growing inequality that exists across Britain and while this is just one of many factors, our research shows that a lack of access to smart workwear can pose a significant barrier to people seeking and securing work. While this is clearly just one aspect of a much larger systemic challenge, we have seen first-hand the impact that a small donation, such as a pair of trousers or a jacket, can have and the vital work that charities like NOAH do for so many individuals in local communities across the UK. whole country.”
Jo Anderson, CEO of Noah Enterprise, quoted:
“For more than 30 years, NOAH has been at the heart of the Luton community, providing vital support to people experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty. Through practical services, compassionate care and long-term empowerment, we work every day to help individuals rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
“Our impact is made possible through strong partnerships with local businesses and organizations that share our commitment to social responsibility. Collaborations with partners like EasyJet play a vital role in supporting and expanding our mission, ensuring we can continue to reach those most in need and create lasting, positive change across the community.”
Following the initial rollout in Luton, easyJet plans to expand the program to additional charity partners at key UK bases including Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gatwick and Liverpool from next month (March 2026), with the ambition to expand the initiative to its wider European network in the coming months.
Uniforms donated by easyJet crew are de-tagged and sorted by local teams, with the aim of making thousands of garments available to job seekers.
Working within local communities closest to easyJet’s operations is one aspect of its sustainability approach. To complement this, the airline continues its ambition to reduce and decarbonize its environmental impact and continues to invest in operational efficiencies and technologies to reduce its impact both in the air and on the ground. Some recent examples include:
While there is still much to do, easyJet remains on track to achieve its ambitious target of reducing CO2 emissions by 35% by 2035. It shows incremental progress and was recently recognized by Sustainalytics as the world’s top-rated airline for managing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks, with an industry-leading score of 18.0.
