HanesBrands has earned its 12th consecutive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star Sustained Excellence/Partner of the Year award for continued progress in environmental sustainability. It remains the only apparel company to earn sustained excellence honors in the U.S. EPA Energy Star program’s 29-year history. Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based HanesBrands participates in the promotional products industry as suppliers Hanes/Champion/ComfortWash (PPAI 191138, S10) and Alternative Apparel (PPAI 217134, S5).
HanesBrands has been recognized by the EPA for lowering overall energy use, while increasing use of renewable energy and electricity during 2020. The company also launched aggressive 2030 sustainability goals, including reducing energy use by an additional 25 percent, using 100 percent renewable electricity and launching science-based emission reduction targets. Additionally, the company appointed its first chief sustainability officer in 2020.
“We’re incredibly proud to remain the only apparel company to earn sustained excellence honors in the U.S. EPA Energy Star program’s 29-year history,” says Chris Fox, HanesBrands chief sustainability officer. “HanesBrands and its 61,000 worldwide associates are deeply committed to sustainability and operating our company as if every day is Earth Day. But there is much more work yet to do. We are intensely focused on pursuing ambitious 2030 goals that will improve the lives of people, protect the planet and produce sustainable products.”
The Energy Star award follows the February announcement that HanesBrands was one of two apparel manufacturers named one of Ethisphere’s 2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies. Also in February, the company was named to Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies for the third consecutive year. HanesBrands was one of four apparel manufacturers to receive “A List” recognition for leadership in corporate sustainability in the CDP 2020 Climate Change Report issued in December 2020.
Energy Star was introduced by the EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased efficiency. The annual Energy Star Partner of the Year award honors organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protect the environment through best practices and organization-wide energy savings.
“Energy Star award-winning partners are showing the world that delivering real climate solutions makes good business sense and promotes job growth,” says EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Many of them have been doing it for years, inspiring all of us who are committed to tackling the climate crisis and leading the way to a clean energy economy.”
