EMERYVILLE, Calif., Oct. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — SCS Global Services (SCS) has independently verified Fruit of the Loom’s 2012 North American carbon footprint. This footprint will serve as the baseline against which the multinational apparel company will measure success toward reaching its 2015 goal of reducing electricity-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40%.
“Fruit of the Loom’s ambitious emission reduction efforts can now be measured against verified carbon footprint data,” said Dr. Robert J. Hrubes, SCS Executive Vice President. “This baseline will enable Fruit of the Loom to quantitatively demonstrate its commitment to large-scale and commendable climate action goals.”
In order to achieve its 2015 electricity emissions reduction goal, Fruit of the Loom is investing in biomass electricity generation for use in its Honduran operations. In addition to biomass power, Fruit of the Loom has committed to purchase electricity from a new hydroelectric power generation facility that is being constructed in Honduras. Once complete, these projects will result in the totality of Fruit of the Loom’s electricity supply in Honduras originating from renewable sources. Fruit of the Loom’s Honduran electricity consumption represents 60% of the company’s total electricity demand in the Western Hemisphere.
“For many years, Fruit of the Loom has emphasized environmental sustainability as a key component of our corporate social responsibility program,” said Rick Medlin, President and CEO, Fruit of the Loom, Inc. “We are very excited about our progress in the area of renewable energy, and we plan to continue to aggressively invest in projects to reduce our carbon footprint and maintain the environment for future generations.”
SCS Global Services independently verified Fruit of the Loom’s carbon footprint against the ISO 14064-3 and ISO 14065 standards as well as the World Resource Institute/World Business Council for Sustainable Development Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The total 2012 footprint included emissions from stationary combustion of fossil fuels, refrigerant and chemical consumption, transportation, and purchased electricity.
SCS Global Services has been providing global leadership in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for three decades. Its programs span a wide cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, retail, and more. SCS provides internationally recognized GHG footprint verification and validation services for company-wide emissions as well as individual product lines. SCS is a chartered benefit corporation and Certified B Corp™, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. For more information on SCS Global Services, visit www.scsglobalservices.com
Fruit of the Loom and its subsidiaries, Vanity Fair Brands, LP and Russell Brands, LLC are leading providers of affordable and comfortable apparel and sporting goods for the entire family. For more information on Fruit of the Loom, visit www.fruit.com.