Gildan Activewear Added to Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2017
MONTREAL, September 7, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL: TSX and NYSE), announced today that the Company has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World Index) for the fifth consecutive year and the DJSI North American Index for the second consecutive year. Gildan remains the only North American company in the Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods industry group listed in the DJSI World Index.
“We take great pride in our inclusion in the DJSI indices, which is a testimony to our ongoing commitment to operating responsibly and sustainably,” said Glenn Chamandy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Gildan. “We are focused on our vision of Making Apparel Better™ and leveraging our vertically-integrated business model, wherein we own and operate our manufacturing facilities and directly control almost all aspects of the process, allowing us to positively influence our impacts and how our products are made.”
In 2016, Gildan continued to show good progress towards reaching its Genuine Responsibility™ 2020 Goals. The Company effectively reduced energy usage intensity by 10%, mainly through the use of high efficiency steam absorption chillers that harness thermal energy from BioMass steam systems to generate air conditioning for its facilities. Additionally, the Company leveraged renewable energy sources thus avoiding over 155,000 tons of its GHG emissions primarily through its highly efficient BioMass systems, which burn agricultural and manufacturing waste to generate steam for Gildan’s textile facilities. This past year, another important milestone was achieved within the Company’s waste management initiatives wherein Gildan recycled or repurposed 86% of its total company waste.
Gildan is fully dedicated to empowering its employees to reach their potential and share in the Company’s success. In addition to comprehensive benefits packages, including free or subsidized meals and transportation, Gildan’s employees benefitted from more than 800,000 hours of training in 2016, which included environment, health and safety, professional development, academic and technical training. Gildan also supports its employees in many of the regions where the Company operates with various healthcare initiatives. The Company provides employees free access to on-site, fully-equipped medical clinics focused on frontline healthcare, workplace-related health issues and additional services such as pre-natal care and vaccinations. In 2016, more than 178,000 medical consultations were provided free of charge to the Company’s employees.
The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index comprises global sustainability leaders and represents the top 10% of the largest 2,500 companies in the S&P Global BMI (Broad Market Index) based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria. It is a best-in-class benchmark that allows investors to identify companies that anticipate and manage current and future economic, environmental and social opportunities and risks by focusing on sustainability, innovation and who are committed to operating responsibly. Increasingly, these companies are seen as leaders who are more likely to have a strong competitive advantage and who create long-term stakeholder value.
The Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI North America) was established in September 2005 to track the performance of companies from Canada and the United States of America that lead the field in terms of corporate sustainability.
