Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said it was committing to source all electricity used at its New Albany, Ohio, global headquarters and distribution centers from renewable generation beginning in 2023.
The retailer, which owns Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister and Gilly Hicks, has signed a 13-year, 100 percent renewable energy supply agreement for its corporate headquarters and two New Albany distribution centers with fellow Ohio-based company AEP Energy, a subsidiary of American Electric Power. The agreement for approximately 30,000 megawatt hours annually will eliminate about 16,000 metric tons of carbon from reaching the atmosphere each year.
“The shift to renewable electricity in our New Albany corporate operations will contribute to our overall energy goals of reducing Total Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030,” Kim Harr, senior director of sustainability at A&F Co., said, adding that the company developed these goals “in line with science-based climate targets and international agreements, including the UN Global Compact (UNGC).”
AEP Energy president Greg Hall said an integrated renewable energy solution will help Abercrombie achieve their sustainability goals with energy from regional assets, as part of the retailer’s commitment to invest in renewable energy and reduce emissions.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates approximately 730 stores across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the e-commerce sites abercrombie.com and hollisterco.com.
AEP Energy, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, is a certified competitive retail electricity and natural gas supply provider operating in 28 service territories in six states and Washington, D.C.
Last year, Abercrombie & Fitch partnered with ThredUp to allow customers to send in their clothing for gift cards to be redeemed at its retail chains. At the time, Abercrombie said the partnership also supports its commitment to UNGC, which it joined in 2019.