Top 40 supplier Gildan (asi/56842) says that 43% of the energy it used in 2017 was produced from renewable sources thanks to biomass steam generation operations. That was just one of the standout points emphasized in the Montreal-based company’s “Genuine Responsibility” – a just-released report detailing Gildan’s corporate social responsibility efforts in 2017.

Our Genuine Responsibility™ 2017 report is now available on our new dedicated CSR website! Visit https://t.co/3knPYgO2aG to learn more on how we’re committed to caring for our people, conserving the environment and creating stronger communities. #GenuineResponsibility pic.twitter.com/O4ahCIidZZ

— Gildan Corp (@gildancorp) August 14, 2018

“As a company, we understand that our continued growth and success demands that we proactively implement sustainable solutions throughout our operations and honor our commitments to caring for our people, conserving the environment and creating stronger communities,” said Claudia Sandoval, Gildan’s Vice President of Corporate Citizenship (pictured on the left).

According to Gildan, responsibility efforts in 2017 included providing, for employees worldwide, more than 181,000 free medical consultations, $4.8 million toward free transportation, and $15.8 million in subsidized meals. Additionally, Gildan said it pursued initiatives aimed at developing opportunities for women, including the Women’s Empowerment Program in collaboration with World Vision Honduras. Today, women fill more than 4-in-10 of Gildan’s management positions, the company stated.

Back on the environmental front, Gildan reported that it reduced its water intensity per kg of production by 10% through continued investments in new technologies and innovation. Relatedly, Gildan said that it is piloting several research projects to reduce its water extraction loads by reintegrating recovered water back into its processes. In a green initiative tied to energy consumption, Gildan invested in technologies, such as absorption chillers, that harness thermal energy from steam to create cool air for the company’s air conditioning systems in several facilities, significantly reducing energy demands and corresponding GHG emissions. 

Other highlights included:

• Gildan reported that it contributed $518,000 towards the refurbishment of the newborn unit at the Mario C. Rivas Hospital in San Pedro Sula, Honduras – a country in which Gildan operates. The new facility will provide care and services to more than 3,000 infants, annually, addressing both acute and chronic illnesses.
• Through its American Apparel Pencils of Promise campaign, Gildan said that it contributed more than $200,000 to help raise awareness and support for child literacy, building new schools, improving infrastructure and providing support to teachers in Guatemala and Ghana. The company also donated $75,000 to Room to Read to implement a Girls’ Education Program in Bangladesh, and established a library and literacy program at a school in Dhaka.
• For its CSR efforts, Gildan was included on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World Index) for the fifth consecutive year.