Top 40 supplier Gildan (asi/56842) has released its 2023 environmental, social and governance (ESG) report – marking two decades of sustainability-related reporting.

Gildan (asi/56842) has released its 2023 ESG report.

Among the highlights, the Montreal-based apparel maker noted that its Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions – emissions from fuel and energy purchases – were down 30.3% in 2023, compared to its base year of 2018. Scope 3 emissions – those indirect emissions that occur up and down a company’s value chain – were down 13.6% compared to a 2019 base year measurement. The supplier also noted that it had reduced its water intensity by 18.9% per kilogram produced, compared to a 2018 base year.

“ESG has been integral to how we operate for many years and is one of the three core pillars of the Gildan Sustainable Growth strategy, reflecting our commitment to creating enduring value for all stakeholders,” said Glenn Chamandy, president and CEO of Gildan. “As our company celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year, as well as two decades of ESG reporting, I’m proud of our progress in the area of sustainability and of this report, which highlights our dedication to ESG principles. We remain steadfast in our commitment to continue to make apparel with respect.”

Gildan’s report also noted its efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, including biomass boilers helping to power textile operations in Honduras and the Dominican Republic, and solar energy investments in Bangladesh.

When it comes to sustainable materials, Gildan said it increased its used of cotton certified by the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (USCTP) and Better Cotton from 21.7% in 2022 to 35.7% of its overall cotton supply in 2023. Plus, the supplier said it increased the number of styles that use recycled polyester fiber and yarn from 65 to 150 – a 130% increase over 2022.

Gildan also provided an update on the partnership between its Goldtoe brand and recycling firm TerraCycle. During the partnership’s first full year, 4.79 metric tons of socks were collected for recycling, the supplier reports.

Gildan’s ESG journey began in the early 2000s, when it published its first Corporate Citizenship Report in 2004. Other milestones include accreditation of its social compliance program by the Fair Labor Association (FLA) in 2007; first materiality assessment in 2014; aligning commitments with the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2017; and publication of its first standalone Climate Change Disclosure Report in 2022. Read Gildan’s full 2023 ESG Report here.

Based on estimated 2022 North American promotional product revenue of $762.2 million, Gildan ranked fifth on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry. New rankings will be released this summer.

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