Gap Inc.
December 2, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO – December 2, 2009 – Today, Gap Inc. announced it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Climate Leaders program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by 20 percent over five years between 2003 and 2008. As participants in the Climate Leaders program, Gap Inc. committed to an 11 percent energy reduction, but was able to exceed this target through a variety of energy efficiency initiatives.
The company reduced energy use across its U.S. operations through the installation of energy-efficient light bulbs at its distribution centers, and improved energy performance at its headquarters locations and stores through better management systems and behavior changes.
"We applaud Gap Inc. for achieving its goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions,” said Susan Wickwire, Chief of EPA’s Energy Supply and Industry Branch. “As a Climate Leaders partner, they’re proving that they can be both industry leaders, and leaders in the fight against climate change.”
Launched in 2002, Climate Leaders is an industry-government partnership that provides guidance and recognition to leading companies to help them develop and implement comprehensive climate change strategies.
“We’re so pleased to have made such a measurable reduction in our energy consumption over the past five years and to receive this important recognition from the EPA,” said Kindley Walsh Lawlor, Senior Director, Global Responsibility, Gap Inc. “Increasing energy efficiency and reducing our consumption not only positively impacts our bottom line, but setting measurable targets creates opportunity for innovation across our business.”
Gap Inc. began its Climate Leaders work by completing a company-wide inventory of GHG emissions and setting goals to reduce them. This, along with the findings from the company’s environmental footprint assessment, will inform additional actions and goals for the company in 2010 and beyond.
In addition to its energy efficiency efforts, Gap Inc. is participating in several initiatives to demonstrate support for climate and energy policies at the federal and international level. The company is a member of Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP), American Businesses for Clean Energy (ABCE), the Business Council on Climate Change (BC3), the Alliance for Climate Protection’s RePower America campaign, the Prince’s Rainforest Project, and is a signatory to the Copenhagen Communiquè which encourages the development of substantive climate action at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this month. Gap Inc. was also recently recognized for improving its Climate Counts score by 10 points – up from 42 last year to 52 out of a possible 100 points – earning the third highest ranking among apparel retailers. For more information on Gap Inc.’s environmental efforts please visit our social responsibility website at www.gapinc.com/socialresponsibility.
About Gap Inc.
Gap Inc. is a leading global specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women, children and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta brand names. Fiscal 2008 sales were $14.5 billion. Gap Inc. operates more than 3,100 stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan and Ireland. In addition, Gap Inc. is expanding its international presence with franchise agreements in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.
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