HanesBrands, the parent of Champion and Gear For Sports, released the company’s 2016 environmental performance data on energy use, carbon dioxide emissions, water use, renewable energy and landfill diversion.

Compared with its 2007 baseline, the company reduced its energy use by 16 percent, carbon emissions by 16 percent and water use by 25 percent. Hanes also shifted 25 percent of the energy the company uses to renewable sources and diverted 84 percent – or 118 million pounds – of waste from its company-owned supply chain from landfills.

Hanes is committed to meeting its aggressive 2020 commitments to reduce energy use by 40 percent, carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent and water use by 50 percent, along with securing at least 40 percent of its energy from renewable sources and diverting 100 percent of waste in its company-owned supply chain from landfills.

“We are proud of the culture of environmental responsibility that we’ve established at HanesBrands during the past decade,” said Michael E. Faircloth, Hanes’ president and chief global supply chain and information technology officer. “It unifies our 67,000 global employees, enables us to make progress during economically challenging years and creates a win-win-win for the environment we all share, our communities and our company.

“We have made significant progress in addressing our environmental impact, but there is always room for improvement when you set the bar high,” Faircloth continued. “And we are committed to continuing to make a positive and lasting contribution to our world in the years to come.”

Hanes reports energy and water use, along with carbon emissions, based on “intensity” – or per pound of apparel manufactured. Year-over-year comparisons for energy, water and carbon emissions were less favorable, due to a strategic decision in 2016 to reduce inventories. Versus 2015, the company’s energy use was up 8 percent, water use up 8 percent and carbon emissions up 4 percent, due to less production volume to absorb fixed energy and water use. On an absolute basis, the total amount of energy and water used was down, with carbon emissions showing a slight uptick.

Hanes – unique in the apparel industry because it owns the significant majority of its manufacturing and supply chain operations – was recognized last year by multiple organizations for its environmental-footprint reduction efforts. In 2016, this included:
Ranking No. 172 on Newsweek Magazine’s list of top U.S. green companies;

  • Winning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Partner of the Year/Sustained Excellence award for the seventh consecutive year;
  • Earning above-average scores for carbon emissions (B), water (A-), supply chain (B) and forest (B) in the CDP 2016 Climate Change Report;
  • Receiving the CEO of the Year award from Corporate Social Responsibility Magazine for leadership in advancing industry-leading environmental and energy-management practices; and,
  • Earning a Responsible Business Award from Ethical Corporation for best employee engagement in its Green For Good philanthropic program, which mobilizes the company’s environmental commitment, employee volunteerism and community improvement.

For more information on Hanes’ award-winning environmental sustainability efforts, visit www.HanesForGood.com.

The company’s brands include: Hanes, Champion, Maidenform, DIM, Bali, Playtex, Bonds, JMS/Just My Size, Nur Die/Nur Der, L’eggs, Lovable, Wonderbra, Berlei and Gear for Sports.

Photo courtesy Champion