Gap Inc. Releases Latest Factory Inspection and Performance Data
Source: LOHAS Weekly Newsletter
Published: Friday, November 24, 2006
Published: Friday, November 24, 2006
Gap Inc. announced today the release of its latest factory inspection and performance data online as part of its ongoing social responsibility commitment. This new data builds on the strengths of the company’s most recent social responsibility report, named one of the top 50 leaders in reporting by SustainAbility.
The updated information, as well as previous social responsibility reports, can be found at www.gapinc.com/socialresponsibility.
“We take our responsibility to make a positive impact in the communities where we do business seriously, and we’re extremely pleased to be recognized for our efforts,” said Dan Henkle, senior vice president of Social Responsibility for Gap Inc. “Our website is an integral part of our global approach to sharing information on our program and the challenges we face monitoring conditions around the world.”
The new gapinc.com content includes the most recent results of the company’s inspections in the factories that make its clothes, including data on factory approvals and terminations.
For example, in 2005, Gap Inc.’s team of Vendor Compliance Officers (VCOs) – which remains one of the largest in the garment industry – conducted 4,438 factory inspections in 2,118 garment factories around the world, accounting for 98.7 percent of all garment factories approved for Gap Inc. production. During that same period, Gap Inc. terminated business with 62 factories, or about 2.9 percent of the company’s approved base, for violations of its Code of Vendor Conduct.
In this latest release, Gap Inc. also provides information on new initiatives and elements of its program that previously appeared only in the first two social responsibility reports, including:
How business decisions and practices can affect working conditions;
Stakeholders, key partnerships, and external evaluations;
The evolution of the company’s Global Compliance team; and
Efforts to minimize its impact on the environment.
“We are making progress,” said Henkle. “However, it’s clear that we can’t make a significant impact alone. There is a great deal more work to be done, and we’ll need to continue collaboration with our stakeholders, including other brands, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), trade unions and other interested groups if we want to impact working conditions and industry practices in a sustainable way.”
Moving forward, Gap Inc. will issue social responsibility reports biennially, with the next report scheduled for release in 2007.
The updated information, as well as previous social responsibility reports, can be found at www.gapinc.com/socialresponsibility.
“We take our responsibility to make a positive impact in the communities where we do business seriously, and we’re extremely pleased to be recognized for our efforts,” said Dan Henkle, senior vice president of Social Responsibility for Gap Inc. “Our website is an integral part of our global approach to sharing information on our program and the challenges we face monitoring conditions around the world.”
The new gapinc.com content includes the most recent results of the company’s inspections in the factories that make its clothes, including data on factory approvals and terminations.
For example, in 2005, Gap Inc.’s team of Vendor Compliance Officers (VCOs) – which remains one of the largest in the garment industry – conducted 4,438 factory inspections in 2,118 garment factories around the world, accounting for 98.7 percent of all garment factories approved for Gap Inc. production. During that same period, Gap Inc. terminated business with 62 factories, or about 2.9 percent of the company’s approved base, for violations of its Code of Vendor Conduct.
In this latest release, Gap Inc. also provides information on new initiatives and elements of its program that previously appeared only in the first two social responsibility reports, including:
“We are making progress,” said Henkle. “However, it’s clear that we can’t make a significant impact alone. There is a great deal more work to be done, and we’ll need to continue collaboration with our stakeholders, including other brands, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), trade unions and other interested groups if we want to impact working conditions and industry practices in a sustainable way.”
Moving forward, Gap Inc. will issue social responsibility reports biennially, with the next report scheduled for release in 2007.