Adelaide residents have helped make history, contributing to a record-breaking 148 tonnes of pre-loved clothing collected in just one day as part of the 2026 Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive.
Held on Saturday 17 October, the nationwide initiative saw more than 11,000 Australians book free clothing collections through the Uber and Uber Eats apps, with donations collected from doorsteps across Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra.
The staggering 148,000kg total marks the biggest result in the event’s eight-year history, surpassing last year’s collection of 125,000kg by 23 tonnes, an increase of more than 18 per cent.
The annual initiative makes it easier for Australians to donate quality second-hand clothing by offering free doorstep pickups, removing the need to travel to a donation centre.
The record result follows research commissioned by Uber revealing that 87 per cent of Australians admit to holding onto clothing they never wear.
More than a third reported having over $500 worth of unworn clothing sitting in their wardrobes, while nearly one in five estimated the value at more than $1,000.
The research also found that 38 per cent of Australians had left a bag of unwanted clothing at home or in their car for at least a month before donating it, highlighting the appeal of a service that collects donations directly from people’s homes.
Adding some star power to this year’s campaign was former Spice Girl Melanie C, who donated five memorable pieces from her personal fashion archives, including three tracksuits, a sequin suit and a little black Gucci dress.
Emma Foley, Managing Director of Uber Australia and New Zealand, said the response demonstrated the generosity of Australians and the impact of making donations more accessible.
“The response to this year’s Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive has been nothing short of inspiring. Year after year, Aussies show up for their communities, and we are so proud that our platform can turn that generosity into real-world impact at scale.”
The donated clothing is now being sorted for sale through Australian Red Cross Shops across the country, with proceeds supporting humanitarian services and programs in Australia and overseas.
Richard Wood, Head of Australian Red Cross Retail, thanked everyone who contributed, explaining that the donations would help stock stores and raise much-needed funds.
“Every quality piece donated makes a real difference, helping our dedicated teams get items onto Australian Red Cross Shop floors faster, where they can be sold to raise critical funds for our humanitarian programs.”
Last year’s drive generated an estimated 110,000 shop-quality items, enough to stock approximately five Australian Red Cross Shops for an entire year.
With this year’s collection exceeding that result by 23,000kg, the 2026 campaign has set a new benchmark for the partnership between Uber and Australian Red Cross.
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