Policies & Procedures
Environmental Code of Practice
Our Environmental Code of Practice (ECP) was created in 2003 and has been integrated into all Gildan-owned facilities. The ECP lists the allowable materials to be used in our manufacturing processes – materials that do not contain substances that are harmful to humans or the environment. Our raw material suppliers are required to agree to adhere to the stringent standards of our Code.
The ECP has multiple benefits:
- It guarantees our customers that our products are clean and safe for their health
- It ensures a safe working environment for our employees
- It minimizes our environmental impact
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Raw Material Classification
Class I: The raw material meets the Gildan Environmental Code of Practice. Therefore, from an environmental perceptive, is approved for use in our manufacturing process.
Class II: Results indicate that the testing information provided was insufficient. Therefore, the supplier is required to provide additional information within three months in order to finalize testing before the material is approved for inclusion in our manufacturing process.
Class III: Materials are deemed unacceptable according to the terms of the Gildan Environmental Code of Practice and are therefore rejected. These materials are not used in our manufacturing process.
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Embellishing our Code, improving our practice
As a reflection of our commitment to continuous improvement, our Environmental Code of Practice is regularly updated to include chemicals related to the apparel sector which are newly banned or restricted by Oeko-Tex, REACH, California’s Proposition 65, EPA, OSHA, and Environment Canada. In total, the current version of the Code restricts 892 chemicals. To facilitate the search for specific chemicals in the ECP, a Restricted Substance List is included, disclosing all substances that are restricted and indicating the category of the chemical, its name and its Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number.
The new regulations have added updated requirements for a wide range of product components, including cotton; polyester; chemicals; solvents; threads; trim; accessories; waistbands and elastics; bags; ozone depleting substances; fluorinated greenhouse gases; and asbestos.
Additionally, a new section has been created to address “Service Chemicals” which are used in boilers; wastewater treatment; chillers; machine maintenance; pest control; and cleaning, among others.