Gildan Activewear Inc..
GIL.US | Manufacture of knitted and crocheted apparel
Gildan Activewear Inc. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of apparel, primarily serving the imprintwear market. The company's main products include activewear such as t-shirts, fleece, sport shirts, and socks. Gildan operates large-scale manufacturing facilities, primarily in Central America and...Show More
Better Health for All
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Gildan's principal goods, apparel, have no significant positive or negative health impact on consumers, and the company's revenue is not derived from products with direct negative health outcomes.
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The apparel products do not have direct safety implications for the physical or mental health of consumers, nor do they carry health risks requiring disclosure.
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Gildan's operations do not generate significant health externalities for the general community.
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While the company implements ergonomic programs, on-site clinics, and aims for ISO 45001 certification, these initiatives pertain to employee workplace safety and health, which are explicitly excluded from the 'Better Health for All' value.
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There is no evidence of Gildan offering health-related products or services, engaging in public health education, or supporting the external healthcare workforce.
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Fair Money & Economic Opportunity
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No evidence available to assess Gildan Activewear Inc. on Fair Money & Economic Opportunity.
Fair Pay & Worker Respect
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No specific, quantitative data points related to fair pay or worker respect for Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL.US) were found in the provided articles. The articles either discuss other companies, general business performance without labor metrics, or were unavailable. While one article mentioned criticism regarding worker safety, it did not provide any quantitative data or specific details to score against the rubric.
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Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing
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The provided articles detail Gildan's policies and processes related to ethical sourcing, including a zero-tolerance stance on modern slavery
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, due diligence for cotton sourcing
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, and a compliance program for conflict minerals aligned with OECD guidance
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. The company also describes its social compliance audit process for owned and contracted factories, noting 181 audits completed in 2018
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, and the development of management action plans for non-compliance
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. However, no specific quantitative data is available across the articles to score any of the KPIs, such as the percentage of fair-trade certified spend, average audit frequency in months per supplier, number of substantiated forced or child labor incidents, traceability coverage, median remediation speed, ethical clause coverage percentage, share of spend on high-risk materials, or supplier diversity spend.
Honest & Fair Business
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Gildan reported zero environmental, social, or economic regulatory fines for 2022, 2023, and 2024.
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The company maintains a robust Global Whistleblowing Policy, last updated in July 2025, which includes a 24/7 independently-operated Ethics and Compliance Hotline available in local languages, multiple anonymous reporting channels such as an app rolled out to 75% of facilities, suggestion boxes, and roundtables.
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The policy explicitly prohibits retaliation, and quarterly reports from the hotline are presented to the Audit and Finance Committee.
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As of December 31, 2024, 87.5% of Gildan's Board members were independent.
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Gildan also has a comprehensive Anti-Corruption Policy and Compliance Program, last amended in November 2025.
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This policy applies globally to all stakeholders, strictly prohibits bribery and facilitation payments, mandates due diligence for business partners and acquisitions, requires periodic training and annual employee certifications, and includes periodic audits.
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One breach of this policy was reported in 2022, with none in 2023 or 2024.
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Kind to Animals
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No specific, concrete data points related to animal welfare, testing, sourcing, or conservation initiatives were found in the provided articles. While one article mentions biotic assessments and fauna/flora monitoring
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, it explicitly states no special conservation measures are required beyond ongoing fauna and flora monitoring in Biotop wastewater treatment lagoon systems
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, and does not provide measurable impact or investment percentages. Other articles consistently state 'no data' or 'no information' for all relevant animal welfare KPIs
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,
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,
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. Therefore, no KPIs can be scored against the 'Kind to Animals' value.
No War, No Weapons
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No specific, concrete data points were found in the provided articles to assess Gildan Activewear Inc. against the 'No War, No Weapons' ethical value. The articles focus on the company's apparel manufacturing, sustainable cotton sourcing, and general supply chain ethical practices, without mentioning any involvement in arms manufacturing, military contracts, dual-use technologies, sales to embargoed regimes, peacebuilding investments, or other conflict-related activities relevant to the rubric's KPIs. While one article mentions compliance with the U.S. Conflict Minerals Rule, it does not provide a percentage of the supply chain certified free from conflict minerals, which is required for scoring that KPI.
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Planet-Friendly Business
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In 2021, 39% of the company's energy was sourced from renewable sources.
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Respect for Cultures & Communities
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Gildan has implemented several initiatives related to community engagement and inclusivity. In 2018, it launched a Women's Empowerment Initiative ("La Comunidad Emprende") in the Dominican Republic, empowering over 180 young women and men.
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By 2024, Gildan had trained over 30 employees in Spanish sign language through a program initiated in 2021 across three Dominican Republic facilities, which is now a fixed component of its annual training plan.
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The company also operates a refugee program, launched in 2022, in North Carolina, providing assistance with housing, English language courses, and other services, and includes cultural sensitivity training for employees and program leaders.
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Gildan donated $200,000 worth of apparel in 2025.
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However, the provided articles do not contain specific, quantifiable data points that align with the defined thresholds for any of the KPIs in the "Respect for Cultures & Communities" rubric, such as the number of formal partnerships with indigenous or local community groups, percentage of revenue reinvested in local community development, or the percentage of employees completing cultural sensitivity training.
Safe & Smart Tech
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Gildan has no documented data breaches or incidents of unauthorized data use.
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The company leverages ISO 27001 for security
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,
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and aligns with the NIST framework for vulnerability management.
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,
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All administrative and office employees receive mandatory annual online training on information protection and cybersecurity
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, and phishing exercises cover 100% of technology-enabled employees several times a year.
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Gildan provides users with rights to access, correct, and erase personal information, including CCPA rights for California residents.
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The company generally aggregates data to avoid direct individual identification
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and collects/uses information only where appropriate and necessary.
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Gildan references compliance with privacy laws such as CCPA and COPPA
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and has policies and efforts to ensure compliance with applicable privacy regulations.
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Zero Waste & Sustainable Products
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In 2024, Gildan diverted 99.08% of its manufacturing waste from landfill.
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The company's packaging and trims were 60% recycled and sustainable in 2024, an increase from 46.6% in 2023.
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For product content, 18.9% of recycled polyester or alternative fibers and/or yarns were used in 2024, up from 9.2% in 2023.
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Gildan reduced poly bag consumption on its wholesale imprintables t-shirt packaging by 70%.
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The company has an ambitious target to achieve zero total manufacturing waste to landfill by 2027.
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Gildan has implemented multiple waste reduction initiatives, such as using in-process waste as input for other products, reusing pallets, working with suppliers to reduce packaging, completing waste mapping at 96% of its manufacturing sites, and utilizing a biomass system for steam generation. The company has a Global Environment & Energy Policy and EMS with policies and procedures for handling hazardous waste and reported zero environmental violations or fines related to waste disposal.
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