Published 05-18-00
Submitted by Gap Inc.
Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) today issued its first social responsibility report, offering the most comprehensive look ever provided by the company into its ongoing efforts to improve labor standards in the approximately 3,000 garment factories worldwide that produce merchandise for the company's Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic brands. The report also provides an overview of the company's focus on supporting sustainable, industry-wide change beyond the garment factories that produce its merchandise.
Highlights of the report, which is available online at gapinc.com, include:
"We believe that garment and other manufacturing workers around the world deserve better than the reality that many unfortunately face," said Gap Inc. CEO and President Paul Pressler. "We recognize and embrace our duty to take a leadership role, and our first social responsibility report discusses in detail our comprehensive efforts and commitments. We are convinced that collaborative, multi-stakeholder engagement is the only way to create sustainable changes for garment workers worldwide. We are working diligently toward that goal."
In preparing the report, Gap Inc. engaged various stakeholders for feedback and input. Five organizations -- Domini Social Investments, the Calvert Group, the As You Sow Foundation, the Center for Reflection, Education and Action, and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibiltity -- comprise the Public Reporting Working Group, formed in late 2002. The group has been helping Gap Inc. explore opportunities for greater transparency and sustainability of the company's ethical sourcing work.
As part of a statement included in the report, the working group said: "This report contains a great deal of information that many companies have not provided publicly. It includes valuable insights from a company that we believe is sincerely struggling with these complex issues."
In addition to a primary focus on improving garment factory conditions, the report also details other aspects of Gap Inc.'s social responsibility efforts. These include community giving and volunteerism, environmental practices, and corporate governance and ethical business practices, as well as policies and programs that support the company's more than 150,000 employees worldwide. Highlights include:
"How we do business is as important as what we do," Mr. Pressler said. "We've accomplished a lot, as shown in our report, but there's always more we can learn and do. We'll continue working hard to ensure our actions consistently support our values."
Gap Inc. is a leading international specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women, children and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy brand names. Fiscal 2003 sales were $15.9 billion. As of May 1, 2004, Gap Inc. operated 3,016 store locations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan and Germany. In the United States, customers also may shop the company's online stores at gap.com, BananaRepublic.com and oldnavy.com.
Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) is a leading global retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, children and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, Athleta and Intermix brands. Fiscal year 2012 net sales were $15.7 billion. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase in more than 90 countries worldwide through about 3,100 company-operated stores, over 300 franchise stores and e-commerce sites. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.
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