Gildan commits to low carbon future, sustainable materials

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Jan 18, 2022

Gildan Activewear, a Canadian manufacturer of everyday basic apparel, unveiled on Monday the company’s next generation Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) plan. 

The aim of the new strategy is to tackle global environmental and social priorities to improve the lives of people who make Gildan garments, protect the environment, empower neighbouring communities, and increase the sustainability of its products.

The new approach will map out advancements by 2030 in the areas of climate, energy, and water; circularity; human capital management; long-term value creation; and transparency and disclosure.

"From our beginning, we have been re-imagining and building the future of responsible apparel manufacturing. This has made Gildan the company it is today; recognized for the apparel we make and how we make it," said Glenn Chamandy, president and CEO of Gildan. 

"ESG has always been integrated into our business strategy and reflected in our market offering. This next generation strategy will push us to deliver even stronger ESG performance and continue to reinforce Gildan as a leading ethical, sustainable, and efficient apparel company."

As part of the plan, for a low carbon future, the company’s goal is to reduce its scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 30 percent by 2030. Likewise, Gildan has signed the SBTi commitment letter, joining companies worldwide in following a science-based approach in reducing carbon emissions. 

It also plans to further invest in water efficiency and to implement additional water reducing, reusing, and recycling options in its operations with the goal to attain a 20 percent reduction in water withdrawal from nature by 2030.

To further reduce its environmental impact, Gildan said it will source 100 percent sustainable cotton by 2025 and 30 percent recycled polyester or alternative fibers and/or yarns by 2027. The company also plans to achieve zero manufacturing waste by 2027 and to use 75 percent recycled or sustainable packaging and trim materials by 2027.

For its workforce, Gildan plans to attain the ISO 45001 certification at all its company-owned and operated facilities by 2028 to push its health and safety performance. In terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the company is also setting a first-time goal to improve gender parity. Likewise, in the regions where the company operates, it will gradually reach a contribution of 1 percent of its pre-tax earnings by 2026. 

Finally, Gildan commits to further enhancing and strengthening its ESG disclosure across its areas of focus, effectively allowing stakeholders to make more informed ESG-focused decisions.

“We are confident that this new strategy will propel our efforts to greater heights and allow us to become a stronger and more resilient Company,” said Claudia Sandoval, vice-president of corporate citizenship at Gildan.