US' Gap Inc highlights sustainability initiatives in 2023 ESG report

Introducing the report, Gap Inc. CEO Richard Dickson noted, "When Don and Doris Fisher opened the very first Gap store in 1969, they bridged the generation gap with clothing and experiences that spoke to an energetic new idealism. Today, 55 years later, the people of Gap Inc. are still bridging gaps, inspired by our shared humanity, to create a better world. A world where purpose and profit co-exist in pathbreaking ideas that better the wellbeing of people and planet."

Over the last year, Newsweek named Gap Inc. first in retail on its list of "America's Most Responsible Companies," and Gap Inc. was included in the S&P Global Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the eleventh year in a row.

In FY2023, Gap Inc. and its partners launched three major initiatives: THE WOMEN + WATER COLLABORATIVE with the Water Resilience Coalition, WaterAid, Cargill, and GSK to improve access to clean water and sanitation in India; the GLOBAL WATER INNOVATION CENTRE FOR ACTION in partnership with long-time supplier, Arvind Limited, to catalyze innovations in water stewardship; and RISE, in collaboration with BSR HERproject, CARE, and Better Work to accelerate gender equity across the apparel supply chain.

Other highlights from the report include:

1. Over 2.5 million people touched by the apparel industry have been empowered to improve their access to clean water and sanitation since 2017.
2. Over 19,600 youth have participated in Old Navy's THIS WAY ONWARD program (since 2007) which fuels the next generation of leaders with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the workplace. With 70 percent of alumni identifying as people of color, the program now accounts for 4.3% of all Old Navy entry-level employees.
3. 98% of cotton utilized by Gap Inc. was from more sustainable sources, and 100% of cotton utilized by at Gap brand and Athleta was from more sustainable sources.
4. As of 2022, 58% of electricity used in company-operated facilities was from renewable sources.
5. The launch of our Inclusive Leadership Coaching Series – facilitated by a third-party expert and focused on building allyship in action and a sense of belonging – as well as our Inclusive Hiring Training, which aims to actively mitigate bias and any form of discrimination in the recruitment process.

Note: The content of this press release has not been edited by Fibre2Fashion staff.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)