ImagesMagUK_February_2022

CP COVER PROMOTION “Every Gildan product is made with ethics, sustainability and transparency woven into it – from field to shirt.” Here we look at how this approach applies to the way the company sources its cotton It’s more than the thread that makes a tee sustainable In June 2021, Gildan® announced that it had become a member of the US Cotton Trust Protocol, effectively reinforcing the company’s commitment to source and use sustainably grown and ethically harvested cotton. The US Cotton Trust Protocol® is a farm-level, science-based programme that sets a new standard to bring quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurements to more sustainable cotton production that drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics: land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, GHG emissions, and energy efficiency. “At Gildan, we have a vision of Making Apparel Better®, and we have long been committed to ensuring that our supply of producing sustainable and ethical apparel, to which cotton is a key component. As members of the US Cotton Trust Protocol, we will help them further this principle by providing third-party verified assurances that they are sourcing responsibly produced, quality fibre and reducing environmen- tal and social risk in their field-to-mill supply chain.” The US Cotton Trust Protocol is aligned with the UN Sustainable Devel- opment Goals and recognised by Textile Exchange and Forum for the Future. It is also part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cotton 2025 Sustainable Cot- ton Challenge, Cotton 2040, and Cotton Up initiatives. chain is ethical and sustainable from fibre to shirt,” said Glenn Chamandy, president and CEO of Gildan. “Join- ing the US Cotton Trust Protocol is a natural next step in our sustainability and transparency journey as it will increase transparency into our supply chain while also providing us with additional assurance that the cotton we purchase from the US is sustainably grown with low environmental and social risks.” Dr Gary Adams, president of the US Cotton Trust Protocol, commented: “Gildan has a proven track record of a strong commitment to sustainable practices, and we are pleased to welcome them as new members. Their company was founded on the principle www.images-magazine.com 38 images FEBRUARY 2022 Gildan’s vertically- integrated model allows the brand to ensure ethical and sustainable practices are in place throughout the manufacturing process