HanesBrands announced that it earned an A- score and took a leadership position in the CDP 2018 Climate Change Report.

Hanes has voluntarily reported its carbon emissions data since 2010 to CDP, which was formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project.

The company scored in the top 6 percent of nearly 7,000 companies that participated in the most recent report and achieved the highest score in the apparel industry. Receiving nearly across-the-board scores in the A range, Hanes’ performance was also higher than the company’s reporting sector average (B-) and regional average (C-).

Hanes, unique in the apparel industry because it owns the significant majority of its manufacturing and supply chain operations, achieved its CDP score for its transparency and by managing emissions, implementing best practices and taking coordinated action on climate-change issues.

“Hanes’ A- score is a significant milestone in our company’s mission to be an international business leader in energy management and eco-friendly business operations,” Hanes Chief Executive Officer Gerald W. Evans Jr. said. “This achievement is a direct result of the engagement of our 68,000 worldwide employees, and I thank them for their support. By embracing environmental stewardship and the conservation of natural resources, Hanes is creating value for our company, our investors, our consumers, our employees and our communities. And we will continue to work toward achieving our mission.”

Among the company’s 2020 environmental objectives are goals to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions by 40 percent from its 2007 benchmark.

In 2018, Hanes also won a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star partner of the year/sustained excellence award, for an unparalleled nine consecutive years. Hanes was recognized by the Energy Star program for a number of accomplishments, including:

  • Lowering year-over-year energy use per pound of production by 6 percent, saving the company more than $4 million. Since 2007, the company has reduced energy intensity by nearly 21 percent and delivered a total cost avoidance of more than $200 million.
  • Implementing numerous environmental stewardship initiatives, including the startup of a combined heat-and-power biomass plant in El Salvador and pilot projects utilizing new technology to reduce energy-intense water use by 50 percent and energy use by 500 million BTU each year.
  • Encouraging employee engagement in the company’s energy management culture through programs such as treasure hunts. Hanes’ most recent treasure hunt, which was held at the company’s Dos Rios fabric manufacturing plant in the Dominican Republic, generated nearly 125 employee-led energy reduction ideas for power, steam, compressed air and water use with a potential savings of nearly $1 million.
  • Partnering with numerous universities, such as Wake Forest University, Appalachian State University, North Carolina State University and the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, to educate the next generation of business leaders about the importance of integrating environmental stewardship in business strategy.

HanesBrands also scored higher than its reporting sector and region on the CDP disclosure for water. The company’s forest disclosure was not scored by CDP but is available on the organization’s website.

For more information on Hanes’ commitment to environmental sustainability, visit Hanes For Good.