The environmental initiatives of Winston-Salem-based HanesBrands have earned it recognition as an apparel industry leader in carbon emissions transparency by the CDP—formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project. The company has also won a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star Partner of the Year/Sustained Excellence Award for the ninth consecutive year. HanesBrands participates in the promotional products industry as supplier Hanes/Champion (PPAI 191138).
HanesBrands received an A- score in the CDP 2018 Climate Change Report, ranking it in the top six percent of nearly 7,000 participating companies and No. 1 in the apparel industry. Hanes has voluntarily reported its carbon emissions data to CDP since 2010. 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 achieved its CDP score for its transparency and by managing emissions, implementing best practices and taking coordinated action on climate-change issues. It also scored higher than its reporting sector and region on the CDP disclosure for water.
“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,” says Gerald W. Evans Jr., CEO of Hanes. “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.
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 six 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. It has also implemented 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.
The Energy Star program also recognized Hanes for encouraging employee engagement in the company’s energy management culture through programs like 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. It has also partnered 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.
