World Environment Day Spotlight: Gildan Leaders on What Sustainability Means to Them
On World Environment Day, Gildan highlighted its two-decade-long commitment to sustainability through its ESG Steering Committee's efforts. The company's next-generation ESG strategy focuses on 12 goals across five areas: Climate, Energy, and Water; Circularity; Human Capital Management; Long-term Value Creation; and Transparency and Disclosure. Key leaders like Peter Iliopoulos, Claudia Sandoval, Juan Carlos Contreras, Carlos Duran, Israel Salinas, Kevin Freeman, and Esther Hackett shared their insights on driving sustainability initiatives. The strategy emphasizes reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, sustainable sourcing, enhancing community well-being, and transparent reporting. Gildan's ongoing projects reflect a dedicated approach to integrating ESG principles into its operations and long-term business strategy.
- Emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and water conservation, indicating environmental responsibility.
- Implementation of energy-efficient designs and optimization of production processes.
- Sustainable sourcing of raw materials and waste management to reduce environmental impact.
- Focus on creating long-lasting products, which benefits customers and reduces landfill waste.
- Commitment to community well-being and value-driven projects in operational regions.
- Transparency and Disclosure goals, ensuring stakeholders are informed about ESG progress.
- Promotion of gender parity and health and safety in the workplace.
- Absence of specific measurable targets or progress data in the PR may raise concerns about the effectiveness and accountability of sustainability initiatives.
- Potential high costs associated with implementing and maintaining ESG initiatives could impact financial performance.
- No mention of financial performance or investor returns related to ESG initiatives, leaving a gap in the business case for these strategies.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 5, 2024 / With a longstanding commitment to sustainability, leading apparel manufacturer Gildan has had an ESG journey spanning two decades. This World Environment Day, we sat down with the leaders comprising Gildan's ESG Steering Committee, tasked with implementing and executing the Next Generation ESG strategy. As part of this strategy, Gildan pledged to make meaningful advancements against 12 goals under five areas of focus, each chaired by key leaders across the organization:
- Climate, Energy, and Water
- Circularity
- Human Capital Management
- Long-term Value Creation
- Transparency and Disclosure
Today, leaders of the five working groups share, in their own words, what sustainability means to them and how they are contributing to a more sustainable future through their work at Gildan. Here's what they had to say:
Peter Iliopoulos, Senior Vice-President of Taxation, Sustainability, and Governmental Affairs
As the head of ESG across the entire organization, Peter Iliopoulos is responsible for providing strategic direction over the Company's ESG approach, providing governance and guidance as a facilitator and integrator of ESG across the business. Additionally, Peter oversees the Transparency and Disclosure area of focus, driving Gildan's goals of transparently sharing its ESG progress and journey with stakeholders.
"My work involves bringing together different functional groups within our organization, challenging them to work towards our ambitious goals that are aligned with our values, and communicating our progress transparently with our stakeholders. It is incredibly inspiring to work with passionate teams and colleagues who are always looking forward, and consistently bringing to life various initiatives to support our goals and encourage sustainability across our business." - Peter Iliopoulos
Claudia Sandoval, Vice-President of Global Social Compliance and Environmental Affairs
Claudia Sandoval has been with Gildan since 2004, the same year Gildan began its public disclosure journey. Having seen the Company's ESG efforts grow and evolve, Claudia now oversees ESG under Peter Iliopoulos's leadership. She also chairs the Long-term Value Creation area of focus and is responsible for pushing Gildan's goal of contributing to value-driven community projects in the regions where we operate.
"I am honoured to be part of a company that embarked on its sustainability journey years ago. Being in Honduras, at the heart of our largest textile manufacturing complex, where so many of our sustainability initiatives come to life, I have had the opportunity to see our impact on thousands of people and communities through influential partnerships and collaborations with community organizations. It is fulfilling to know that the harmonious co-existence of businesses, nature, and communities contribute to a sustainable future." - Claudia Sandoval
Juan Carlos Contreras, Senior Vice-President of Manufacturing and Carlos Duran, Vice-President of Project Engineering
Juan Carlos Contreras and Carlos Duran oversee the Climate, Energy, and Water area of focus to help achieve Gildan's goals of reducing its carbon emissions and water intensity.
"In addition to underscoring one of Gildan's core values, ‘We Operate Responsibly,' sustainability encourages continued dedication to the environment, a commitment shared by all of us at Gildan. Even before the term "ESG" came into the limelight, we were actively investing in water conservation projects since 2001, measuring our GHG emissions since 2006, and reporting on our environmental efforts since 2004. It is rewarding to be part of a Company that is always looking ahead while staying true to its commitment of operating sustainably." - Juan Carlos Contreras
"Every day, my work serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to preserve natural resources and address climate change. By supporting Gildan's ESG goals through implementing energy efficient designs, optimizing our production process, and reducing our consumption of resources, I find it fulfilling to see the tangible impact of our work on the environment, in people's lives, and in our communities." - Carlos Duran
Israel Salinas, Senior Vice-President of Global Supply Chain (SMD), and Kevin Freeman, Vice-President of Product Development and Merchandising
Israel Salinas and Kevin Freeman chair the Circularity area of focus, leading the Company's efforts to reduce its impact on the environment through sustainable sourcing of raw materials and waste management.
"The crux of my work involves optimizing our processes and integrating sustainability in our operations. But what I find most rewarding is bringing together a group of wonderful people who truly care about sustainability and make an effort to embed it into their daily lives. For my team and I, sustainability is not just a target but a fundamental belief that drives our every action, helping us move forward to transform this belief into reality." - Israel Salinas
"The favourite part of my role is creating what I like to call ‘evergreen products,' or products that have long shelf lives. Our teams at Gildan are always looking for innovative ways to formulate sustainable manufacturing processes, ultimately creating more durable, comfortable, and better-fitting t-shirts. Making products which can be used for long periods of time benefits our customers and also delays these products' end-of-life stage by keeping them out of landfills." - Kevin Freeman
Esther Hackett, Vice-President of Human Resources
Esther Hackett leads the Human Capital Management area of focus, overseeing the Company's health and safety and gender parity targets.
"In my work, I have focused on fostering a space where employees feel safe to engage and contribute to the Company's goals, something which has allowed us to garner their support in pushing our sustainability journey even further. The best part of my work is to promote Gildan's ESG efforts among our employees and facilitate the protection and creation of resources that can promote the well-being of people, while ensuring the continuity of generations to come." - Esther Hackett
To learn more about Gildan's Next Generation ESG strategy and goals, click here.
World Environment Day Spotlight: Gildan Leaders on What Sustainability Means to Them
View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Gildan Activewear on 3blmedia.com.
Contact Info:
Spokesperson: Gildan Activewear
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/gildan-activewear
Email: info@3blmedia.com
SOURCE: Gildan Activewear
View the original press release on accesswire.com
FAQ
What sustainability goals has Gildan set for 2024?
How is Gildan addressing climate change?
What is Gildan's approach to waste management?
How is Gildan promoting community well-being?
What are Gildan's transparency and disclosure goals?
How does Gildan promote gender parity and workplace safety?
