Gap, Athleta to accelerate sustainable fiber production

By

Obi Anyanwu

Published
Apr 24, 2017

Gap, in honor of Earth Day on April 22, detailed its commitment to sustainability, announcing the acceleration of the use of sustainable fibers in apparel production for the Gap and Athleta brands.

 
The company is committed to obtaining 100% of its cotton from more sustainable sources for its namesake brand by 2021, and by 2020, 80% of Athleta’s apparel materials, which is comprised of technical fabrics, will be made by sustainable fibers. The activewear brand plans to meet its 2020 goal by partnering with fiber and manufacturing suppliers on solutions. In 2016, 7 million plastic bottles were diverted from the landfill as a result of Athleta’s use of recycled polyester.
 
Gap’s new commitments are part of the Gap for Good platform for sustainable fashion, which also includes the reduction of energy consumption, saving water and educating and empowering women through the P.A.C.E. (Personal Advancement & Career Enhancement) education program. Since 2014, Gap’s suppliers saved over 750 million liters of water,

In addition to the new sustainability goals, Gap will continue to partner with Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), a non-profit that works with farmers around the world to improve cotton production. Gap sourced 3.8 million pounds of Better Cotton for its 2017 product, and in 2016, Gap brands, including Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta, have sourced over 11.5 million pounds of Better Cotton, which is enough to produce 7.4 million pairs of jeans.
 
“We believe in actively protecting the planet we all share,” shared Gap’s Chief Product Officer Wendi Goldman, who serves on both the Gap Foundation Board of Trustees and Gap Inc.’s Sustainability Board, on Gap Inc.’s blog aDressed.

“With our new sustainable cotton goal, we have the opportunity to make a big impact on the global cotton community, and bring to light what’s so incredibly important to the future of garment manufacturing, what matters to us as a brand, and what matters to our customers.”