Make a difference
Gap Outlet and Banana Republic Factory Stores
Gap Inc. Outlet is a leading retailer in the outlet marketplace, extending the reach of our company’s iconic brands. Through Gap Outlet, Gap Generation, Gap Factory Store and Banana Republic Factory Stores, we deliver great product at a compelling value. We believe that people should be free to express themselves, and that style should be accessible and affordable to all.
We are also passionately committed to doing what’s right for our customers, our people, our community and our planet. Even as we focus on providing great value, we challenge ourselves every day to reduce our impact on the environment throughout our stores, offices and homes. And we’re proud of our results.
Greening Our Products
In Summer 2010, in Gap Outlet we launched our “Made in Haiti – For the World!” campaign. As part of our commitment to re-building the Haitian economy after the devastating earthquake in January 2010, we developed a line of T-shirts for the entire family. The shirts were not only made in Haiti, but the proceeds from the sale supported Mercy Corps and its global relief efforts.
We’ve also launched the sale of a re-useable tote in all of our Gap Outlet, Gap Generation and Gap Factory Stores. Not only do we love these totes, but our customers do too – with more than 10 seasonal color options and a convenient, portable design, we’ve sold an impressive 500,000 units in a few short months.
Also in Gap Outlet, we launched a small collection of specially designed 100 percent organic cotton graphic tees for boys, and, in Fall and Holiday 2010, we’ll expand that offering to include a new collection of graphic tees, fashion polos and 2-in-1 styles.
Finally, we continue to support Gap Inc.’s Denim Clean Water Program in both brands. To ensure the safety of the water that the facilities we work with discharge into the environment, we require all denim laundries to participate in our clean water program, which is based on BSR's strict guidelines. This means that the water used in washing our jeans has been specially treated to ensure that it’s safe and clean for local communities when it leaves the denim laundry.
Greening Our Stores
We do our best to find ways to make our stores more “green”. We are proud that Gap Inc. and its family of brands are part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program, a voluntary initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Across our Outlet stores, we’ve invested in temperature-control and management training, and introduced more energy-saving materials and fixtures. We’ve installed new lighting that’s more energy efficient and lowers our HVAC cooling needs, while building concrete and vinyl floors made with recyclable components. As a result of these improvements, we’re proud to say that Outlet has the lowest energy use among Gap Inc.’s fleet of stores.
In addition, we’re testing a new store prototype with non-toxic paints, eco-friendly wainscot, water-saving restroom fixtures, recycled-metal fixtures and concrete floor and HVAC units. All of these items keep us on track toward achieving our LEED® certification, which recognizes that we meet rigorous standards for incorporating green principles into our store design.
Greening Our Packaging and Deliveries
Many of our current packaging materials are made with a percentage of recycled materials, and we’re working toward increasing those percentages when possible.
- Price tickets made from 100 percent recycled material are currently being phased into all stores.
- Shopping bags are made with 15 percent recycled material. We’re reducing the thickness and gauge of our shopping bags, which will reduce the amount of poly used by 50 percent, thereby reducing related landfill waste by more than 500,000 pounds annually, as well as decreasing fuel and freight consumption.
- Shoe boxes contain 50 percent recycled material and are recyclable.
Greening Our Lives and Community
As part of Earth Day, each employee throughout our offices made one personal resolution to change one practice, either at home or work, to be more eco-friendly.
Here are a few of our commitments:
“I will start composting!”
“I will start a vegetable garden.”
“I will recycle my bath water.”
“I will take public transportation to work.”
“I will stop using paper cups, plates and napkins.”
“I will start a free-cycle program at work.”
In addition, in our stores throughout the country, we have committed to going above and beyond to provide support for the local communities in which we operate. In 2009, while our goal was to support 150 volunteer projects or team grants, we ended the year supporting 264 projects! We helped more than 245 organizations and our store employees volunteered more than 8,000 hours of their time!
Whether at home or at work, we’re guided by our commitment to act responsibly in supporting people, our communities and the protection of our natural resources.
