Climate

We're committed to following the latest climate science and achieving our science-based targets:

 - ​Net zero emissions across our value chain by 2050

- 90% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, from a 2017 baseline

- 100% Renewable Energy in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, from a 2017 baseline

- 32.5% reduction in Scope 3 purchased goods and services by 2030, from a 2017 baseline 

To meet our Scope 1 and 2 commitments, we invest in renewable energy such as virtual power purchase agreements (vPPAs) and onsite installations. We also drive efficiency in our stores, offices and distribution centers by upgrading HVAC, electrifying operations, and investing in smart energy management systems. 

To meet our Scope 3 commitment, we partner with our suppliers to help them set decarbonization targets, increase efficiency, electrify operations, and procure renewable electricity. We also work to convert the fibers in our products to lower-carbon alternatives.  

We are committed to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), work through the Fashion Pact coalition, and have signed on to the United Nations Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. To reduce impacts from transportation, we have signed on to the Arctic Shipping Pledge and have been an EPA Smart Way Partner since 2011. 

See our Climate Policy.

Water

We believe that access to safe water is a fundamental human right and a business responsibility. Our water stewardship approach recognizes water as a critical natural resource for our business, for communities, and for the environment.  

Our water strategy focuses on: 

Access: We have a goal to empower 5 million people by 2030 with improved, equitable access to safe water and sanitation in communities impacted by our industry. 

Reduction: We support our suppliers to reduce freshwater withdrawals by improving efficiency and increasing use of recycled water in operations, prioritizing suppliers in water-scarce regions. Our Washwell™ program incentivizes freshwater reduction in our supply chain. 

Replenishment: We invest in nature-based and infrastructure projects that replenish water to ecosystems and strengthen the resilience of freshwater resources to support a resilient supply chain. 

We take part in the CEO Water Mandate, Water Resilience Coalition, WASH4Work, and the Alliance for Water Stewardship. We follow the World Resource Institute’s Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting guidance to evaluate our replenishment projects and use the World Wildlife Fund’s Water Risk Filter to assess our supply chain water risks.

Product

We acknowledge our reliance on - and partnership with – nature. We invest in converting our priority fibers, cotton and polyester, to lower-environmental impact alternatives to connect our fiber choices to our climate and water commitments. We continuously work to eliminate risk in our product choices and to improve manufacturing processes in partnership with our suppliers.
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100% of cotton in our products is from more sustainable sources such as BCI Cotton , verified U.S.-grown cotton (USCTP), organic, in conversion (to verified organic), recycled, or regeneratively-grown. 

We exceeded Textile Exchange’s 2025 rPET challenge to source polyester from recycled sources. 

We eliminated the use of wood-derived fibers from ancient and endangered forests in 2022.
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We are members of the Microfibre Consortium (TMC) and are contributing to research to understand microfibers in textiles. We’re improving our understanding of fiber shedding from our products and the textile value chain as a whole. Research suggests some fabrics may shed more than others and that washing and drying clothing less often, at lower temperatures, and with microfiber capture devices (like laundry bags or filters for home laundry machines) can reduce microfiber emissions from home laundering.  

We use industry tools such as the Higg Materials Sustainability Index (MSI) and Textile Exchange’s Fiber and Material Matrix, and partner with Cascale, Textile Exchange, CanopyStyle, The Microfibre Consortium, and more. 

See our Animal-Derived Materials and Wood-Derived Fabric Policies.

Chemicals

Effectively managing chemicals and wastewater in our supply chain is a critical component of our environmental strategy. Our approach is informed by global regulations, considerations of hazard and risk, and industry best practice. We implement industry-aligned chemistry and wastewater guidelines and work with our suppliers to phase out chemicals of concern. We follow the AFIRM Group Restricted Substances List (RSL) and Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL).
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We prohibit intentional use of PFAS and eliminated intentional use of PFAS-based finishes in 2023.
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Through our Water Quality Program (WQP), suppliers are required to conduct third-party testing of wastewater and sludge in line with the ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines and take corrective actions to address any non-conformances found. Gap Inc. participates in the AFIRM Group to promote responsible chemicals management in the supply chain. We evaluate suppliers’ chemicals management practices and support continuous improvement through our Code of Vendor Conduct and the Higg Index Facility Environmental Module (FEM).
See our PFAS policy.

Waste and Circularity

We are actively working to incorporate circularity principles into our business, from using recycled materials in our product, supporting suppliers to reduce waste and reuse and recycle inputs, and piloting ways to increase the longevity of our products. We also work to eliminate waste in our own operations, recycling hangers used in store and plastic film at our distribution centers, using recycled content in our polybags and e-commerce mailers, and transitioning our shopping bags to paper.  

Our partnership with ThredUp® encourages customers to send gently used garments for resale through “Clean Out Kits” in exchange for shopping credits at our participating brands. Athleta’s Preloved resale site hosted by ThredUp® has been active since 2022 and Gap brand offers vintage products through a collaboration with Trove.