Anvil Knitwear Introduces Water Footprint as Part of 2011 CSR Progress Report

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Anvil Knitwear released its 2011 CSR Progress Report which states the American apparel company reduced its water, steam and electricity usage per pound of finished t-shirt fabric. The progress report – which covers Anvil's operations for fiscal 2010 – also highlights Anvil Knitwear's 10 percent reduction in production water usage and 25 percent reduction in landfill waste.

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A highlight of the progress report is Anvil's first Product Water Footprint which reveals that the majority of water consumed during production of Anvil t-shirts occurs during the agricultural process – when cotton is grown and cultivated – compared to water consumed during the textile manufacturing process. 

"Using the results of Anvil Knitwear's first water footprint assessment, we are working on a fiber diversification and sustainability scorecard that takes into account the impact of water in our agricultural supply chain," said Caterina Conti, Anvil's Executive Vice President and head of sustainability. 

The Product Water Footprint also found that most of the water used at Anvil's production facilities is not actually consumed. Rather, it is returned to the same watershed from which it was sourced. Furthermore, water consumption during Anvil's textile processing has a minimal impact on water deprivation because Anvil manufactures in water-abundant areas.

While Anvil made many strides in its sustainability efforts, a 35 percent in increase in production and a change in product mix in 2010 resulted in the company experiencing higher emissions than in the previous year.

"Anvil Knitwear is committed to developing new and more innovative strategies to reduce our environmental footprint, especially as we expand our production to meet consumer demand for Anvil tees," Conti added.

Further insights on Anvil's progress in the last year include:

Production Water Savings: Anvil's textile facility used 10 percent less water this year – equivalent to saving an estimated 60 million gallons – as a result of changes made in dye/bleach recipes and reuse of cooling water.  Anvil is still working to find new ways to use and reuse water throughout the production process and has set the goal of reducing water per unit produced by 20 percent by 2020. 

Significant Waste Reduction: Anvil reduced the total amount of landfill waste generated by nearly 25 percent due to greater recycling efforts in all facilities, surpassing last year's target of a 5 percent reduction. The company set a new goal to achieve a zero landfilled waste stream by fiscal 2020.

Anvil Knitwear's 2010 GHG Emissions Footprint: Anvil reported an annualized emission equivalent of 59,357 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, up from the 42,523 metric tons reported in 2009. This 32 percent increase in company emissions is due to higher production, a change in product mix to a higher percentage of dyed t-shirts (which utilize approximately twice the energy and three times the water than bleached shirts) and an increase in outgoing deliveries as the result of expanded complete scope two reporting in 2010 for delivery emissions.

Anvil's 2011 CSR Progress Report also highlights expanded initiatives and improved KPIs in its labor, supply chain, human rights and society impacts, including the results of a self-assessment under the Calvert Women's Principles, which it adopted in 2010.

In the 2011 CSR Progress Report, Anvil fully reported on all core and actual performance indicator questions, self-declaring Application Level A.  The reporting framework used is based upon the Global Reporting Initiative's G3 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines and the Apparel and Footwear Sector Supplement pilot. The progress report is a follow-up to Anvil Knitwear's 2010 CSR Report that was recognized as Best First Time Report by Ceres and the Association for Charted Certified Accountants (ACCA).

About Anvil Knitwear
Anvil Knitwear, Inc., a century old apparel brand, is a leader in the sustainable apparel industry with its AnvilOrganic®, AnvilRecycled® and AnvilSustainable® brands. AnvilOrganic® has been ranked in the top ten largest organic programs worldwide by the Textile Exchange for the last three years.  Anvil Knitwear received Best First Time Report for its first CSR Report published in 2010 in the North American competition sponsored by Ceres and the Association for Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). For more information, please visit www.anvilknitwear.com.

SOURCE Anvil Knitwear