HanesBrands Earns Ninth Consecutive U.S. EPA Energy Star Partner of the Year Award for Environmental Excellence

The world’s largest manufacturer of basic apparel is an industry leader in environmental responsibility and international business leader in energy management and is making significant progress against aggressive 2020 sustainability goals.
Apr 2, 2018 2:15 PM ET

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., April 2, 2018 /3BL Media/ – HanesBrands is on a mission to become the apparel industry’s leader in environmental stewardship and social responsibility. The company’s progress has earned a ninth consecutive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Partner of the Year award for sustained excellence in energy conservation, carbon emissions reduction and environmental sustainability.

Hanes – unique in the apparel industry because it owns the significant majority of its manufacturing and supply chain operations – is being recognized by the Energy Star program for its 2017 accomplishments, including:

  • Lowering year-over-year energy use per pound of production by 6 percent, saving the company more than $4 million. Since 2007, the company has reduced energy intensity by nearly 21 percent and delivered a total cost avoidance of more than $200 million.
  • Implementing numerous environmental stewardship initiatives, including the startup of a combined heat-and-power biomass plant in El Salvador and pilot projects utilizing new technology to reduce energy-intense water use by 50 percent and energy use by 500 million BTU each year.
  • Encouraging employee engagement in the company’s energy management culture through programs such as treasure hunts. Hanes’ most recent treasure hunt, which was held at the company’s Dos Rios fabric manufacturing plant in the Dominican Republic, generated nearly 125 employee-led energy reduction ideas for power, steam, compressed air and water use with a potential savings of nearly $1 million.
  • Partnering with numerous universities, such as Wake Forest University, Appalachian State University, North Carolina State University and the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, to educate the next generation of business leaders about the importance of integrating environmental stewardship in business strategy.

“HanesBrands is incredibly honored to earn our ninth consecutive Energy Star Partner of the Year award and will accept it on behalf of our approximately 70,000 worldwide employees who are committed to energy management and environmental responsibility,” said Javier Chacon, chief global manufacturing officer for HanesBrands. “Thanks to our employees’ steadfast commitment, Hanes is the only apparel company to be honored for sustained excellence by the EPA Energy Star program in its 26-year history and continues to demonstrate that companies from all industries can make a difference in energy conservation, carbon emissions reduction and environmental sustainability.”

Hanes recently released the company’s 2017 environmental performance data on energy use, carbon dioxide emissions, water use, renewable energy and landfill diversion.

Across every category, the company posted strong results compared to the year prior. Versus 2016, Hanes reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 15 percent, energy use by 6 percent and water use by 7 percent, while increasing its use of renewable energy by 7 percent. Additionally, Hanes again diverted 84 percent of its supply chain waste from landfills.

Chacon and a cross-functional team from Hanes will attend the April 20 Energy Star banquet in Washington, D.C., to accept the award and participate in collaborative meetings to share best practices with other companies that have earned Energy Star recognition, including Allergan, The Boeing Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, General Motors Company and Raytheon.

Energy Star was introduced by the EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased efficiency. The annual Energy Star Partner of the Year award honors organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protect the environment through best practices and organization-wide energy savings.

For more information on Hanes’ award-winning environmental, social and workplace accomplishments, visit Hanes For Good.

For more information about the U.S. EPA Energy Star program, visit energystar.gov.

HanesBrands

HanesBrands is a socially responsible leading marketer of everyday basic innerwear and activewear apparel in the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia-Pacific. The company markets T-shirts, bras, panties, shapewear, underwear, socks, hosiery, and activewear under some of the world’s strongest apparel brands, including Hanes, Champion, Maidenform, DIM, Bali, Playtex, Bonds, JMS/Just My Size, Nur Die/Nur Der, L’eggs, Lovable, Wonderbra, Berlei, Alternative, Bras N Things and Gear for Sports. More information about the company and its award-winning corporate social responsibility initiatives may be found at www.Hanes.com/corporate. Connect with HanesBrands via social media on Twitter (@HanesBrands) and Facebook.