HanesBrands (asi/59528) has reported that it diverted 92% of its waste from landfills in 2021.

The impressive statistic was one of the notable achievements the global apparel maker highlighted in its just-released 2021 Sustainability Report, which details progress the company has made toward reaching its long-term sustainability goals by 2030.

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“By setting challenging goals and reporting against our progress, we are showing our commitment to sustainable practices and continuing our long history of acting responsibly, ethically and with transparency,” said Chris Fox, HanesBrands’ chief sustainability officer. “This includes impacting the lives of millions of people, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, moving toward 100% sustainably sourced cotton and ensuring we have a diverse and inclusive team around the world.”

In the report on 2021, HanesBrands noted that 61% of the cotton it used in its products last year was sustainable. The supplier also reduced usage of single-use plastics by 15% compared to a 2019 baseline standard, while also cutting packaging weight by 5%.

Notably, HanesBrands reported an 11% reduction in its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, and set science-based emissions reduction objectives for the year 2030. Meanwhile, the company generated nearly half (48%) of its electricity from renewable sources, according to the report.

HanesBrands also reported that it donated 9.4 million items of clothing to 80 organizations, while positively impacting the lives of 1.4 million people through what the company described as philanthropic initiatives and associate and community programs. Nearly half (49%) of the company’s U.S.-based senior manager-level positions are held by women.

How will the #promoproducts industry change and evolve over the next 5 years? Leading industry executives make in-depth predictions in this report. https://t.co/b9MGRdECBw @asicentral @ASI_MBell

— Chris Ruvo (@ChrisR_ASI) April 25, 2022

Sustainability/corporate responsibility is sure to be one of the big movements in promo and beyond over the next five years, as this report details.

The report comes after HanesBrands, in late 2020, announced sustainability goals around three pillars: people, planet and product. The supplier is one of the largest apparel manufacturers/marketers in the world, employing 59,000 associates across 33 countries.

Recently, sustainability and corporate social responsibility have sharply risen in importance in the promotional products industry and beyond.

Leading industry companies like Top 40 firms Gildan and Koozie Group (asi/40480) have seriously stepped up efforts in the arena. Sustainability/corporate responsibility has been cited by industry leaders as one of the most significant phenomena to play out in promo in the ensuing years. And at Merchandise World, the United Kingdom’s largest promo products trade show, held this month in Coventry, England, sustainability was the single biggest theme discussed by virtually all suppliers.

Promo for the Planet is your destination for the latest news, biggest trends and best ideas to help build a more sustainable and socially-responsible industry.