Gap Inc. released its 2024 Impact Report, outlining how the San Franscisco-based company is accelerating positive environmental and social impact and progressing toward its sustainable commitments.
As a hero product for its Old Navy and Gap brands, denim was the focus of several sustainable accomplishments during the year, including Gap Inc.’s progress made related to water stewardship.
The company’s long-term Washwell initiative saved 1.1 billion liters of water in 2024, for a total of 6.0 billion liters saved since 2016. Washwell reduces water use in garment finishing by at least 20 percent compared to conventional wash methods, with program outputs validated by the World Resources Institute (WRI) in 2023.
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In 2024, 100 percent of Old Navy’s and 100 percent of Gap brand’s eligible denim met Washwell standards. The company plans to expand its impact. Currently, Washwell is led by denim assortments, but Gap Inc. said it is expanding to woven bottoms and garment dyed knits.
In 2024, Gap Inc.’s denim vendor selection process prioritized suppliers with proven sustainability programs. Indian denim mill Arvind Limited proved to be an invaluable partner in Gap Inc.’s water stewardship goals in 2024.
Together they eliminated the use of freshwater in Arvind denim mills by using purified municipal wastewater. Through this partnership Gap Inc. and Arvind aim to replace over 1 billion liters of freshwater annually with reclaimed wastewater, helping preserve the local freshwater supply.
Additionally, Gap Inc. and Arvind launched the Global Water Innovation Centre for Action (GWICA) in India. The 18,000-square-foot facility is being used to pilot several infrastructure-related technologies to identify positive water impacts.
GWICA’s wastewater treatment plant relies on a Membrane Bio Reactor (MBR) first unveiled by Arvind and Gap in 2019. The technology allows for the treatment of domestic wastewater from the surrounding community without the use of harmful chemicals. Negating the need for fresh water in textile processing, the treatment plant also provides a source for reclaimed water to propel the manufacturing process.
To expand impact, GWICA experts are designing a training curriculum to build capacity with suppliers across the region.
Gap brand expanded sourcing of regenerative cotton through the Regenagri and Good Earth Cotton standards, notably in its denim assortment. The report said Gap continues to support nearly 2,500 farmers in their transition to certified organic cotton and is on track for transition to organic cotton in fall 2025.
Beyond denim
In general, Gap Inc. is closing in on its goal to source 100 percent of its cotton from sustainable sources by 2025. In 2024, 98 percent of its cotton was BCI, USCTP, organic, recycled or regenerative.
Gap Inc. made strides in traceability. The company traced preferred fiber in over 82 million garments through the blockchain product traceability platform TextileGenesis. Suppliers continue to be onboarded to the platform as Gap Inc. increases the number of preferred fibers and orders traced to scale fiber traceability. Additionally, Gap brand piloted Traceable Better Cotton with a strategic supplier in India. Products from this pilot were on market during Fall 2024.
The company is on track to meet its 2030 goals to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 90 percent from a 2017 baseline and reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and serves by 32.5 percent. More than half of its company-operated facilities globally are operating on renewable electricity.
Gap Inc. consumed 28 billion liters of water in 2024. It reduced or replenished 14 percent of what it consumed or 3.9 billion liters of water. By 2030, the company aims to grow the amount to 100 percent.
In collaboration with Global Water Challenge, Gap Inc. launched its first water replenishment project with Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan to construct a groundwater recharge system, implement watershed restoration solutions, and provide technical water management training to local farmers.
However, Gap Inc. is on the path to achieving net positive water impact in water-stressed regions. In 2024, the company formed roadmaps and began implementation of several initiatives to progress on 2030 goals.
Gap Inc. demonstrated its dedication to respecting human rights across its direct operations and supply chain through continuous stakeholder engagement and rigorous due diligence.
In 2024, Gap Inc. launched the Mill Compliance Agreement, which expands oversight to our Tier 2 mills nominated by our Tier 1 vendors. The aim is to increase upstream visibility to help ensure compliance with global regulatory requirements and human rights policies. The company also piloted wage tools with
Tier 1 suppliers in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India and Vietnam to gather data on wages to better understand the fairness of payment systems and how worker wages cover their costs of living.
Factory programs are growing and evolving. P.A.C.E. Workplace, a program to support the professional and personal growth of women garment workers since 2007, is transitioning to RISE, a program founded in 2023 that provides men and women training on topics such as communication, problem-solving, financial literacy, worker rights and responsibilities, and sexual and reproductive health.
In 2024, 85 percent of Gap Inc.’s strategic factories participated in P.A.C.E. Workplace or RISE resulting in nearly 98,000 garment workers receiving training.
