BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — September 29, 2020 — Fruit of the Loom Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, released its first annual global sustainability report and announced Fruitful Futures, the company’s new global sustainability plan. Fruitful Futures outlines Fruit of the Loom Inc.’s commitment to reduce the environmental impact of its global supply chain with science-based targets, as well as a plan to enhance the lives and communities of its global workforce. The complete report can be viewed on www.FOTLinc.com.
“We are incredibly proud to publish our 2019 sustainability report and to announce Fruitful Futures, our comprehensive sustainability plan, uniting our global employees under shared goals that further our commitments to our customers and consumers,” said Melissa Burgess Taylor, chairman & CEO, Fruit of the Loom Inc.
Fruitful Futures connects Fruit of the Loom’s portfolio of iconic brands, which include Fruit of the Loom®, Russell Athletic®, Spalding® and Vanity Fair®, and its employees in purposeful work across three main pillars:
- People-Centric: enriching lives for people and communities.
- Planet-Conscious: reducing the environmental impact of our operations and products.
- Product Authenticity: sourcing sustainably from transparent supply chains.
The plan aligns with five UN Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Responsible Consumption and Production.
Highlights of the 2019 sustainability report include:
Fostering Inclusive Culture: Fruit of the Loom’s leadership team is 37-percent female and 39-percent of managers are female. In addition to continuing our efforts on gender equality, our goal is to finalize a comprehensive Diversity and Inclusion strategy in 2020.
Reducing Greenhouse Gases: The company saw a 59-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (2018 from a 2012 baseline in North and Central America) and has a commitment to set targets aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative and achieve 100-percent renewable electricity by 2030.
Sourcing Sustainable Raw Materials: 89 percent of the cotton used by Fruit of the Loom is grown in the United States through Cotton LEADS, a program to advance sustainable agriculture practices in cotton production. The company has set goals to source 100 percent of cotton sustainably by 2025, and to increase sourcing of recycled polyester, nylon, and packaging.
“At Fruit of the Loom Inc., we have a rich 100-year history of providing the essential goods people all over the world need to flourish and thrive,” Taylor said. “We are committed to enriching our consumers’ lives. Fruitful Futures is our plan to make our world more fruitful for generations to come.”
Posted September 29, 2020
Source: Fruit of the Loom Inc.
