MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC–(Marketwired – July 11, 2016) – Gildan Activewear Inc. (TSX:GIL)(NYSE:GIL) announced that it has released its 2015 corporate, social and environmental responsibility (CSR) report on the Company’s CSR dedicated website genuinegildan.com. One of this year’s highlights is the results of Gildan’s 2010-2015 environmental efforts.
Gildan is focused on creating value in everything it does for its stakeholders: customers, employees, shareholders and its communities by taking an integrated approach to sustainability which is at the very heart of its day-to-day business decisions and long-term planning. In 2015, the Company continued to invest in its vertically-integrated business model which provides it with unparalleled oversight and control over its supply chain – from raw cotton to final product, enabling Gildan to identify and manage the environmental, social and community impacts of producing its apparel.
2010-2015 Environmental Goals
Gildan’s five-year environmental goals created an organizational mindset focused on uncovering potential opportunities to improve efficiencies and reduce Gildan’s environmental footprint. Over the 2010-2015 period, Gildan achieved the following results:
- 34% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per kg of production since 2010, largely achieved through the use of biomass. Currently, 51% of the Company’s energy needs are now met through renewable resources, such as the use of biomass in the Company’s steam generation plants.
- 14% reduction of energy per kg of production achieved through the installation of high efficiency steam absorption chillers which run on steam produced by the Company’s biomass steam generation expansion.
- 17% decrease in water per kg of production, which translates into savings of approximately 3.85 million cubic meters of water or the equivalent of over 1,500 Olympic-sized swimming pools, when compared to 2010. These savings were primarily achieved through investments in modern jet dyeing machines.
- 89% recycling or repurposing of total waste and 19% reduction in waste sent to landfills in 2015.
“We are tremendously proud of the progress we have made in the last five years to improve our efficiency in using natural resources and reducing our emissions,” said Benito Masi, Executive Vice-President, Manufacturing. “We have continued to invest in new technologies and infrastructure, which have led to major advancements in reducing the Company’s energy, GHG emissions intensity, water and waste footprint and increasing our use of renewables to power our energy needs.”
People
In a continued effort to provide employees with a safe and healthy work environment, Gildan provided 142,700 medical consultations to employees in 2015 through its free on-site medical clinics, which included basic medications, prenatal care and health education programs. The Company also provided subsidized meals and free transportation to employees, and fostered an environment of continuous learning through the delivery of almost 1,000,000 man-hours of training.
“Through ongoing dialogue with our non-governmental partners, the application of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework in our reporting and external validation of our findings by a reputable third party, our goal is to ensure that our path to creating a more sustainable future is a collaborative one,” said Julie Cournoyer, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility. “We work with a variety of stakeholders to help advance our thinking on environmental and social issues so we can continue to implement leading practices that will distinguish us as a unique apparel company.”
Community
Gildan continued to make youth education a focal point of its community engagement, with the goal of helping youth acquire the job and life skills necessary to contribute to the future of their communities. The Company was involved in several school renovation projects to improve the conditions for school-aged children in Latin America and Bangladesh and provided over 1,000 scholarships to professional and vocational schools. In Honduras, Gildan committed to donate $3.5 million received as a grant from the Government of Honduras in relation to a program for job creation. The totality of the grant will be donated to community projects aimed at improving education, health care services and living conditions.
Product
Across its family of brands, Gildan has built a reputation for delivering high quality, great value products. Gildan’s Global Quality System (GQS), in combination with its stringent Environmental Code of Practice, assures customers that the products it delivers are safe and manufactured to the highest standards, such as the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification for all Gildan® and Anvil® branded apparel. Gildan’s products also predominantly feature U.S. Cotton, which is sustainably grown and ethically harvested.
About Gildan
Gildan is a leading manufacturer and marketer of quality branded basic family apparel, including T-shirts, fleece, sport shirts, underwear, socks, hosiery, and shapewear. The Company sells its products under a diversified portfolio of company-owned brands, including the Gildan®, Gold Toe®, Anvil®, Comfort Colors® and Alstyle® brands, as well as the Secret®, Silks and Therapy Plus™ brands. The Company also has the U.S. sock license for Under Armour®, and licenses for the Mossy Oak® and New Balance® brands. The Company distributes its products in printwear markets in the U.S. and Canada, as well as in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. The Company also markets its products to a broad spectrum of retailers primarily in the U.S. and Canada. The Company also manufactures for select leading global athletic and lifestyle consumer brands.
Gildan owns and operates vertically-integrated, large-scale manufacturing facilities which are primarily located in Central America, the Caribbean Basin, North America and Bangladesh and are strategically positioned to efficiently service the quick replenishment needs of its customers in the printwear and retail markets. Gildan has over 47,000 direct employees worldwide and is committed to industry-leading labour and environmental practices at all of its facilities. More information about the Company and its corporate citizenship practices and initiatives can be found at its corporate websites www.gildan.com and www.genuinegildan.com, respectively.
Garry Bell
Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Communications
514-744-8600
[email protected]
