Thousands of personal care products surrendered at Brisbane Airport are finding a second use, with unopened items being redirected to Queenslanders experiencing hardship rather than going to waste.
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In the financial year to June, Brisbane Airport donated more than 15,600 personal care items, equivalent to 7.8 tonnes of products, to not-for-profit organisation GIVIT.
The donations come from products surrendered by international travellers at security screening after exceeding allowable limits for carry-on baggage. Unopened items including body wash, conditioner, sunscreen and toothpaste are collected and passed on through GIVIT’s network of local charities.
For passengers, surrendering a bottle of shampoo or tube of toothpaste can be an unexpected part of passing through airport security. For people facing financial hardship, those same everyday items can help meet basic personal care needs.
Brisbane Airport Community Engagement Manager Portia Allison said the initiative provided practical support to Queenslanders while reducing waste.
“If you’ve just said goodbye to a bottle of shampoo or tube of toothpaste at airport security, you’re not alone,” Ms Allison said.
“Although it might be disappointing to leave these items behind, you can feel good knowing they don’t end up in landfill.”
“We take unopened items from security screening and give them a second chance, working with GIVIT to ensure the products go to Queenslanders who need it most.”
Essential Items Reach Brisbane Charities
GIVIT has distributed the toiletries from Brisbane Airport to more than 25 charities across Brisbane. These include crisis accommodation shelters, disability services and domestic and family violence charities supporting people who need essential goods.
GIVIT spokesperson Samantha Richardson said toiletries that many people take for granted can be a luxury for those experiencing hardship.
“Basic toiletries like deodorant or shampoo are essentials most of us take for granted but for many people they’re a luxury item,” Ms Richardson said.
“Having access to these personal care items means that someone experiencing hardship doesn’t have to make the choice between buying toiletries or putting food on the table.”
The airport’s donations also include other brand-new food products, such as honey and Vegemite, which are distributed to charities supporting people in need.
For GIVIT and the community organisations it works with, the arrangement provides another source of useful goods. The partnership also helps Brisbane Airport keep unused products out of landfill.
Ms Richardson described the arrangement as a “win-win”, with unused goods staying out of landfill while reaching people experiencing hardship.
“Our partnership with Brisbane Airport is a win-win, with these unused goods staying out of landfill while providing them to someone doing it really tough,” she said.
A Reminder For International Travellers
Brisbane Airport also encourages international travellers to familiarise themselves with carry-on requirements before arriving at the airport.
Travellers passing through the International Terminal may have to surrender powders, liquids, aerosols and gels that exceed permitted limits for carry-on baggage.
Australian Border Force advises that there are limits on how much powders, liquids, aerosols and gels passengers can carry onto an aircraft. It also recommends that travellers pack these items in checked-in baggage if they are unsure about the requirements.
Brisbane Airport has recently completed a significant security upgrade, installing next-generation screening technology to help streamline the departure experience for international travellers.
Passengers who arrive with items that do not meet carry-on requirements may still have to surrender them at security.
For eligible unopened products, surrendering them at security does not necessarily mean they will go to waste. Through Brisbane Airport’s partnership with GIVIT, unopened toiletries and other suitable goods can be passed on to charities across Brisbane, where they are distributed to people experiencing hardship.
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The partnership gives eligible surrendered products a second use, helping charities provide essential personal care items to people who need them.
Published 10-August-2026
