Gildan Joins the Cotton LEADS™ Program
MONTRÉAL, September 26th, 2016 /3BL Media/ – Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL; TSX and NYSE) is pleased to announce that the company has joined the Cotton LEADS™ program. This program is committed to the use of best practices and traceability in the cotton supply chain. “Gildan is well-known for its commitments to quality apparel and to responsible manufacturing,” says Mark Messura, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Marketing at Cotton Incorporated. “As such, they have firsthand knowledge of the environmental gains that cotton growers, represented by the Cotton LEADS™ program, continue to achieve.”
Gildan is a vertically-integrated manufacturer, controlling virtually every stage of the production process from raw materials to finished products, and understands that operating responsibly and sustainably is a critical element of the company’s overall business strategy and continued success.
Gildan currently employs more than 2,600 full time employees in the U.S. and is one of the largest domestic consumers of U.S. cotton, with more than U.S. $400 million in invested yarn spinning facilities in North Carolina and Georgia. “Our investment demonstrates the confidence we have in U.S. farmers, and the industry, to supply one of the world’s best cotton crops for our needs, delivering high quality fiber that is sustainably grown and ethically harvested,” says Chuck Ward, President Gildan Yarns LLC and board member of The Cotton Board. “Over the past 30 years, we have successfully integrated sustainable solutions across the complete manufacturing process, and our strategic choice to use U.S. cotton aligns very well with that ongoing commitment.”
Available at www.genuinegildan.com, Gildan recently published its 2015 CSR report which outlines the company’s many efforts across all areas of corporate social responsibility. Using the GRI-G4 guidelines, this year’s update includes the company’s environmental reduction target results for the period from 2010-2015.
About Gildan
Gildan is a leading manufacturer and marketer of quality branded basic family apparel, including T-shirts, fleece, sport shirts, underwear, socks, hosiery, and shapewear. The Company sells its products under a diversified portfolio of company-owned brands, including the Gildan®, Gold Toe®, Anvil®, Comfort Colors®, Alstyle®, Secret®, Silks®, Kushyfoot®, Secret Silky®, Peds®, MediPeds® and Therapy Plus™ brands. Sock products are also distributed through the Company’s exclusive U.S. sock license for the Under Armour® brand, and a wide array of products is also marketed through a global license for the Mossy Oak® brand. The Company sells its products through two primary channels of distribution, namely printwear and retail markets. The Company distributes its products in printwear markets in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. In retail markets, the Company sells its products to a broad spectrum of retailers primarily in the U.S. and Canada and also manufactures for select leading global athletic and lifestyle consumer brands.
Gildan owns and operates vertically-integrated, large-scale manufacturing facilities which are primarily located in Central America, the Caribbean Basin, North America and Bangladesh. These facilities are strategically located to efficiently service the quick replenishment needs of its customers in the printwear and retail markets. Gildan has over 47,000 employees worldwide and is committed to industry-leading labour and environmental practices throughout the Company’s supply chain. More information about the Company and its corporate citizenship practices and initiatives can be found at www.gildan.com and www.genuinegildan.com, respectively.
About Cotton LEADS™
The Cotton LEADS™ program is a joint effort of the Australian cotton industry and the U.S. cotton industry as a project of the Cotton Foundation. Its founding members are Cotton Australia, the National Cotton Council of America, Cotton Council International and Cotton Incorporated. The program is designed to raise awareness of the responsible growing practices and commitment to continuous improvement among cotton producers in the member countries. More information on the Cotton LEADS™ program is at: www.cottonleads.org.
Media Relations:
Gildan Activewear Inc.
Garry Bell
Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Communications
(514) 744-8600
gbell@gildan.com
Cotton LEADS™ (USA)
Marjory Walker
(901) 274-9030
MWALKER@cotton.org
James Pruden
(919) 678-2365
jpruden@cottoninc.com
Cotton LEADS™ (Australia)
Brooke Summers
(0418) 962 942
brooke@stepcommunication.com
