Anvil Knitwear Wins Best First Time Report at Ceres-ACCA North American Awards

NEW YORK, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Anvil Knitwear received Best First Time Report for its CSR Report for the North American competition sponsored by Ceres and the Association for Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) at the Ceres conference in Oakland, California. Anvil's report is available at www.anvilcsr.com.

"Anvil Knitwear's first sustainability report demonstrates the company's commitment to the integration of sustainability into its business model. The company 's compelling web-based report candidly describes key challenges facing the company and its industry," said Mindy Lubber, President of Ceres.

"It was by creating this report that we truly came to understand our company in a way we never had before," said Caterina Conti, Anvil's EVP and head of sustainability. "It helped us to be more transparent with each other, with our customers and with ourselves. Above all it made Anvil a better company, and every one of us better managers."

The Ceres-ACCA North American Awards for Sustainability Reporting aims to recognize and encourage exemplary reporting on sustainability performance by corporations and other organizations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As sponsors of the annual awards program, Ceres and ACCA believe that recognizing best practice in sustainability disclosure is crucial to driving improvements in sustainability performance; that reporting motivates benchmarking, learning and goal-setting, and builds an accountability mechanism for internal and external stakeholders—as well as a platform for engagement. Of the ninety-eight sustainability reports from companies and organizations submitted this year, seventeen reports were short-listed and an independent panel of expert judges met in January 2011 to select the award winners. Anvil joined Ceres and adopted its principles in 2007.

Anvil Knitwear is a leading manufacturer of sportswear and accessories, with a proven record in engaging in responsible business practices. In addition to sustainable apparel, Anvil focuses on consumer education via interactive platforms, including TrackMyT.com, which chronicles the life cycle of a t-shirt from seed to store. Anvil's CSR Report was created with the assistance of The Betty Cortina Agency and Agency Net, Anvil's interactive agency.

About Anvil Knitwear

Anvil Knitwear, Inc., a century old apparel brand, is a leader in the sustainable apparel industry with its AnvilOrganic® and AnvilSustainable™ brands. Anvil has been ranked by the Organic Exchange as the world's sixth-largest organic program for two years and it is the largest domestic purchaser of U.S.-grown certified organic cotton. Anvil offers 17 affordable eco styles made from a variety of fibers such as certified organic cotton, transitional cotton, recycled cotton, and recycled PET bottles and blends in addition to over 70 traditional styles. For more information, please visit www.anvilknitwear.com, www.anvilcsr.com, www.shirtscan.com and www.TrackMyT.com.

About Ceres

Ceres is a national network of more than 130 investment funds, environmental organizations, labor unions and other public interest groups working to increase corporate responsibility. Formed in 1989, Ceres created the Ceres Principles, a pioneering 10-point code of corporate environmental conduct that led to widespread adoption of environmental principles by corporations worldwide.

In 1997, Ceres launched the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which has become the internationally established standard for corporate reporting on the "triple bottom line" of economic, social and environmental performance. GRI is now an independent institution, with over 1800 companies using the guidelines.

In early 2010, Ceres released The 21st Century Corporation: The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability, a tool for companies and investors looking to transition to a more sustainable economy. Ceres also directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR) with 100 investor members with $10 trillion in assets under management.

About ACCA

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants. We offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.

ACCA supports our over 131,500 members and 362,000 students throughout their careers, providing services through a network of 80 offices and centres. Our global infrastructure means that exams and support are delivered – and reputation and influence developed – at a local level, directly benefiting stakeholders wherever they are based, or plan to move to, in pursuit of new career opportunities.

In addition, ACCA participates in a number of influential organizations, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). In recognition of ACCA UK's social and environmental issues program, ACCA has been awarded a Queen's Award for Sustainable Development.

Contact:
Natalia Garzon
1-646-488-3677
[email protected]

SOURCE Anvil Knitwear