Other Initiatives

Manufacturing textile products impacts the environment in a variety of ways, including the consumption of natural resources and energy and the creation of waste in the transformation process itself. Our production process is managed in a way to continuously improve our efficiency and productivity in an eco-friendly manner. Every Gildan-owned and contractor facility is required to comply with our Environmental Code of Practices (ECP), which was implemented last year.

Manufacturing inputs

Protecting the environment starts at the beginning of the manufacturing process. Our buying policy has been formulated to exclude all harmful chemicals. This ensures that the Company’s use of raw materials, dyes and chemicals complies with local legislation and Gildan’s ECP. In addition, biochemistry technology is always preferred to traditional chemistry.

Manufacturing process

We continuously evaluate NOX (nitrogen oxides) levels in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We also reduce energy consumption by recycling condensed heat. In addition, the Company has found ways to reduce solid wastes and use of petroleum consumption by utilizing selected oils.

Manufacturing outputs

A first for the Company was the implementation of a biological high-efficiency wastewater treatment system biotop) at its Rio Nance textile plant in Honduras. Given its success, we also implemented a biotop system at our new Dominican Republic textile facility. Gildan also renewed for a second year its Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, the most internationally recognized eco-label designation in the textile supply chain. Finally, Gildan prevents soil contamination by integrating recycling processes at all of its facilities.