489 / 500
PRODUCT GUIDE
489
ENVIRO
RESPECTI NG
THE PLANET
AND ITS
RESOURCES
As one of the world’s largest
manufacturers of apparel and socks,
we have become experts at looking
at the big picture while scrutinizing the
smallest details in every step.
One of the ways we have reduced
our footprint is through our energy
conservation and renewable energy
generation efforts. Since 2015 we have
reduced the energy required to produce
one kg of production by more than 10%,
mainly through the introduction of high
efficiency steam absorption chillers that
harness energy from our steam genera-
tion systems to create air conditioning
for our facilities.
In 2016 the company leveraged invest-
ments in renewable energy generation
to reduce our GHG emissions by 155,000
metric tons, principally as a result of our
high-efficiency BioMass steam generation
systems that burn agricultural and
factory waste to generate steam for
our textile facilities.
PROTECTI NG WATER
Water is a very important resource so our
teams of engineers are continuously find-
ing ways to reuse, recycle and reduce the
water intensity of our operations. In 2016
we reduced that intensity by 5%, above
and beyond the savings we had achieved
in the previous 5 year target cycle.
Gildan’s innovative BioTop wastewater
treatment lagoons use bacteria, sunlight
and gravity to virtually eliminate the dyes
and chemicals from our effluent, allowing
local farmers to use the resulting water
safely for irrigation.
10
%
REDUCTION
IN ENERGY
INTENSITY
SINCE 2015
5
%
REDUCTION
IN WATER
INTENSITY
SINCE 2015
NMENT
One important tip for concerned
consumers is that more than 60%
of a t-shirt’s total life cycle water use
occurs in the consumer use phase.
We recommend to our customers that
they wash in cold water and hang dry,
but especially only when required.
You too can make a difference!
OVER THE 2010 - 2015 PERIODS,
WE REDUCED OUR USAGE OF WATER
PER KG OF PRODUCTION BY 17%,
WHICH TRANSLATES INTO SAVINGS
OF APPROXIMATELY 3.85 MILLION
CUBIC METRES OF WATER.
WE AVOIDED PUTTING
155,000
METRIC TONS OF
GHG INTO THE
ENVIRONMENT
THROUGH THE USE
OF OUR RENEWABLE
ENERGY
IN 2016
COMMU
$3.5
MILLION
TO COMMUNITY PROJECTS
IN HONDURAS (2013-2016)
DONATED U.S.
CREATING BETTER
FUTURES
With manufacturing operations in
the United States, Canada, Honduras,
Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Mexico
and Bangladesh, we are a major employer
in most of the regions in which we operate.
Having this presence comes with both
a responsibility to be an exemplary
corporate citizen and an opportunity to
have a positive impact in the communities
where we operate.
We work closely with community
organisations and local governments
to determine precisely where the needs
are greatest and work collaboratively
with them to provide the resources,
support and financial assistance to
make a real difference.
IN 2015, GILDAN COMMITTED TO DONATING
THE ENTIRE GRANT RECEIVED FROM
THE GOVERNMENT OF HONDURAS IN
CONNECTION WITH OUR PARTICIPATION
IN AN EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME CALLED
“CON CHAMBA VIVÍS MEJOR” (WE LIVE
NITY
1,000
EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATED IN
THE WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME
,
OFFERING OVER 70 HOURS OF TRAINING
ABOUT FINANCE, COMMUNICATIONS
AND HEALTH
TO DATE
MORE THAN
$270,000
TO COMMUNITY PROJECTS
IN LATIN AMERICA SINCE 2013
THE GILDAN GLOW RUN
CONTRIBUTED OVER
BETTER WITH JOBS). AS PART OF GILDAN’S
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAMME,
MORE THAN U.S. $3.5 MILLION IS BEING
ALLOCATED OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD
TO SPECIAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN
HONDURAS, AIMED AT IMPROVING
EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE SERVICES
AND LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE
NORTHERN REGION.
One of the main areas we focus
our community engagement on is
education, with the goal of helping
people acquire the training and skills
necessary to contribute to the future
of their communities.
GILDAN WAS INVOLVED IN SEVERAL
SCHOOL RENOVATION PROJECTS TO
IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS FOR SCHOOL-
AGED CHILDREN IN LATIN AMERICA AND
BANGLADESH. SINCE 2006, GILDAN HAS
PROVIDED OVER 1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS
FOR EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO ATTEND PROFESSIONAL
AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS.
We also match funds raised by our
employees through events such as
the Gildan Glow Run, which benefit
various selected causes. In 2016 alone,
the Gildan Glow Run raised $106,900
through the participation of over 13,000
people in Honduras, the Dominican
Republic and Nicaragua.
THINK GLOBAL,
MANAGE LOCAL
Another way that we support our
communities is by hiring local talent
to staff our management positions and
create management development
opportunities for our current employees.
We also strive to have a positive economic
impact by using local suppliers for
transportation, food services and raw
materials and accessories for our
production facilities such as dyes, buttons,
zippers, boxes and office supplies.