Hanesbrands Inc., Winston-Salem, N.C., announced that five company manufacturing plants have earned U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star Challenge for Industry awards by reducing energy use by an average of 18 percent.
To date, 23 of the company’s manufacturing facilities have earned the honor, helping the company reduce energy use, as well as the corresponding greenhouse gas emissions that result from energy use. To earn Challenge for Industry status, manufacturing plants must reduce their energy use by 10 percent within a five-year period.
Located in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Thailand and Vietnam, the latest five company plants to achieve these honors have benefited from a company-wide energy management initiative and employee-driven energy-saving ideas, as well as investments in technological improvements, including advanced heat recovery, air conditioning and compressed air systems.
“The employees at all five plants should be commended for their success in reducing energy use and protecting the environment,” Jean Lupinacci, director of the Energy Star commercial and industrial branch for the EPA, wrote in award letters to each of the plants.
Unlike most apparel marketers, Hanesbrands Inc. owns the substantial majority of its manufacturing supply chain and can make a significant contribution to responsible environmental practices. Since 2007, the company has reduced its energy use by 23 percent, its carbon emissions by 25 percent and its water use by 31 percent. More than a quarter of the company’s worldwide energy use comes from renewable sources, such as hydro, geothermal and biomass.
“Sound environmental practices make good business sense, although achievement requires significant planning and effort,” said Kurt Schwalbe, Hanesbrands Inc.’s director of engineering and energy management. “We are proud of our organization’s commitment to environmental practices from the executive suite to the plant floor. That’s why we are the only apparel company to be a multiyear sustained excellence award winner from EPA Energy Star.”
For more information on Hanesbrands Inc.’s award-winning corporate social responsibility efforts, visit www.hanesforgood.com. For more information about Energy Star, visit www.energystar.gov. For more information on Hanesbrands Inc., visit www.haneslocator.com.
