The Real Environmental Cost of Your Airline Uniforms

When we think about the aviation industry’s environmental footprint, our minds naturally go to the obvious culprits: fuel emissions, noise pollution, and contrails. Yet, there’s one aspect of aviation sustainability that’s often overlooked: airline uniforms.  

From airline pilot uniforms to cabin crew uniforms, these garments represent much more than a professional image. They’re essential for functionality, branding, and team identity, but their environmental cost is significant. Every uniform has a lifecycle – from production to disposal – and each stage in this has an impact on the planet.  

In this blog, the team at Jermyn Street Design (JSD) will explore the broader sustainability challenges facing the aviation industry, before zooming in on the environmental impact of aviation uniforms and the key actions needed for positive change. We’ll also share how airline industry innovators like Jet2 are leading the way towards sustainable solutions.

The Environmental Footprint of the Aviation Industry  

Flying High, Polluting Big: Aviation’s Challenges  

According to Our World in Data, the aviation industry accounts for around 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions, but when high-altitude emissions are factored in, its contribution to global warming rises to an estimated 4%. 

While the industry serves billions of passengers annually, the environmental costs are staggering:  

• Fuel Consumption – Jet fuel combustion releases CO₂ and other harmful gases. In 2024, annual jet fuel consumption by commercial airlines is forecast to reach 99 billion gallons.
• High-Altitude Emissions – Aviation emissions include carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides (which have a more potent warming effect than CO₂ alone), sulphur dioxides, soot, and contrails. When emitted at high altitudes during flight, these emissions have a stronger greenhouse effect.
• Waste – From single-use plastics and food/beverage waste on board to use of non-recyclable materials in airport ground support operations, waste generation remains a key issue.  

Airlines have embraced innovations like sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), electric and hybrid aircraft, waste reduction initiatives, and operational efficiencies. 

However, the environmental cost of aviation uniforms is often ignored, despite being a key part of operations. 

Staff Uniforms: A Hidden Cost in Airline Sustainability

The Lifecycle of an Aviation Uniform

Uniforms may not seem like a major factor in aviation’s environmental footprint, but the scale of the industry magnifies their impact. 

Consider this: each airline employs thousands of staff across roles, all of whom require multiple uniform pieces that are usually replaced every few years.  

Each airline pilot or cabin crew uniform has a lifecycle with distinct environmental costs:  

1. Material Sourcing – Most airline uniforms are made from petroleum-based synthetic fabrics like polyester, which are energy-intensive to produce. Manufacturing polyester requires approximately 70 million barrels of oil annually globally and emits nearly three times more CO₂ than cotton. Additionally, these materials aren’t biodegradable, persisting in landfills for hundreds of years.  
2. Dyeing and Processing – Dyeing textiles is one of the most water-polluting processes in fashion, responsible for around 20% of industrial water pollution worldwide. The toxic chemicals used in dyeing and finishing can harm ecosystems, especially in regions with limited wastewater treatment.  
3. Use Phase – Clothes made from synthetic materials (including many aviation uniforms) release microplastics during each wash cycle. It’s estimated that up to 35% of all microplastics in the ocean come from washing synthetic textiles.  
4. End-of-Life Disposal – Many airlines incinerate old uniforms or send them to landfill, compounding the global problem of textile waste. Normally, security concerns prevent these garments from being recycled, particularly if they feature distinct branding and logos.  

Why Uniforms Deserve More Attention

With increasing focus on the importance of sustainability and reducing emissions, it is vital that businesses pay attention to every aspect of their operations and supply chains when considering eco-friendly changes.

Airline uniforms are often overlooked in aviation sustainability plans because they seem less impactful than fuel emissions. However, high staff turnover and use of composite materials in airline pilot uniforms and cabin crew attire can make workwear a significant contributor to waste and pollution. By creating green uniforms instead, airlines can reduce waste, save resources, and work towards their ESG goals.  

Sustainable uniforms also offer an excellent opportunity to showcase environmental leadership to customers and the general public, since the attire worn by customer-facing staff is one of the most visible elements of an airline’s brand identity.

Jet2 and Jermyn Street Design: A Case Study in Sustainable Airline Uniforms

What Jet2 Needed  

Jermyn Street Design’s partnership with industry-leading UK airline Jet2 provides a powerful example of what eco-friendly airline uniforms can achieve. 

Recognising the environmental impact of traditional workwear, Jet2 wanted a more sustainable redesign of their cabin crew uniforms, airline pilot uniforms, and even ground ops uniforms. 

The new uniforms needed to prioritise durability, sustainability, and staff well-being, while also offering outstanding fit, distinctive visual branding, and functional excellence across all the different Jet2 jobs.

Designing for Sustainability

Key features of JSD’s approach to this uniform redesign included:  

• Circular Design – Taking the entire lifecycle of an aviation uniform into account, JSD designed Jet2’s uniforms to facilitate end-of-life deconstruction, meaning that their materials can be repurposed instead of discarded.  
• Recycled Fabrics – Since 2019, all of Jet2’s uniforms have been crafted from recycled materials that minimise the need for virgin resources, reducing the carbon footprint of production.  
• Improved Packaging – Not only is garment packaging now made from recycled materials (with compostable packaging in development too), but the amount of packaging used has also been significantly reduced. 
• A Garment Care Initiative – In order to extend garment lifespans and minimise the need for frequent replacements, JSD helped trial a uniform care initiative that focused on maintaining fabric quality and reducing wear and tear. 
• Take-Back and Store System – At the end of seasonal staff’s contracts, Jet2 returns their used cabin crew uniforms to JSD. We then clean, repair, and store these garments until they are reissued, prolonging their use and minimising waste.  

The Results: Driving Real Change  

Jet2’s collaboration with JSD has yielded measurable benefits across several key areas. One significant achievement is the reduction of textile waste achieved by the innovative circular uniform design and take-back scheme. Together, these prevent thousands of Jet2’s airline uniforms from being incinerated or sent to landfill each year.

The use of recycled fabrics for garment production has led to lower carbon emissions compared to traditional virgin polyester manufacturing. Similarly, the use of recycled packaging and initiatives to extend garment lifespans have helped contribute to reducing Jet2’s environmental footprint.

The redesign has also positively reinforced Jet2’s brand image, as the more sustainable aviation uniforms signal their clear commitment to environmental responsibility, a message that resonates with eco-conscious customers and employees alike.

Overall, this case study highlights how addressing what seem to be smaller concerns – like airline pilot uniforms and cabin crew uniforms – can drive an impactful change in a company’s sustainability efforts. 

The Case for Sustainable Aviation Uniforms 

The Business Benefits of Sustainable Uniforms  

Making uniforms more sustainable isn’t just an environmental and ethical win – it’s also a business advantage. 

Airlines that prioritise sustainability improve their ESG credentials, attract eco-conscious travellers, and foster loyalty among employees who value their employer’s environmental ethics.

Key Steps for Change

1. Design for Durability – Extending aviation uniform lifespans by using durable fabrics and design features that limit wear and tear helps to reduce the frequency of replacements needed.  
2. Embrace Organic or Recycled Materials – Switching to sustainable materials like recycled polyester, bamboo, or organic cotton can significantly reduce resource consumption and pollution.  
3. Implement Uniform Take-Back Schemes – These programmes allow for the reissue or recycling of old/used airline uniforms, reducing waste.  
4. Recycle and Upcycle – Collaborate with partners like JSD to implement eco-friendly end-of-life disposal practices such as recycling or upcycling old uniforms into new products.  

Frequently Asked Questions About Airline Uniforms

Q: Why are airline uniforms important for sustainability?  

A: Uniforms are a high-volume product with potentially significant environmental costs in terms of production, usage, and disposal. Addressing their impact is essential for airlines to adopt a holistic sustainability strategy.  

Q: What materials are used in airline uniforms?  

A: Traditionally, most airline pilot uniforms and cabin crew uniforms are made from synthetic fabrics like polyester, which are durable but resource-intensive and non-biodegradable.  

Q: How can airlines make uniforms more sustainable?  

A: By using recycled materials, implementing take-back schemes, and designing modular uniforms that can be repaired or reissued, airlines can minimise waste and emissions.  

Q: What makes JSD’s approach to Jet2’s uniforms unique?  

A: The Jet2 uniforms designed by JSD combine the use of recycled fabrics with innovative take-back schemes, creating a sustainable system that reduces waste and extends the uniform lifespans.

Invest in Sustainable Airline Pilot Uniforms and Cabin Crew Uniforms for a Greener Future  

The aviation industry faces immense sustainability challenges, and uniforms are a hidden yet impactful part of the problem.  

Airline uniforms may be a small piece of the puzzle, but addressing their environmental cost can amplify broader sustainability efforts. 

By adopting practices that create a more circular approach to uniforms – like those pioneered by Jet2 and JSD – airlines can significantly reduce waste, lower emissions, and drive real change.The time to rethink your aviation uniforms is now – and the rewards extend far beyond the skies. Contact the team at Jermyn Street Design today to get your project startedions. Contact us today to explore how we can help you achieve your environmental and branding goals.