Elevate Textiles announced that it has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership, among the first textile manufacturers to do so.
The move was made as part of the company’s continued efforts to promote and advance sustainability throughout its supply chain operations and in support of its portfolio brands American & Efird, Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann and Safety Components.
The Smartway Transport Partnership is an innovative, market-based collaboration between the EPA and industry designed to reduce carbon emissions in the freight transportation sector. The partnership consists of more than 3,000 members, including manufacturers, freight shippers and freight logistics companies that share a commitment to assessing and improving the environmental and energy efficiency of moving goods and materials across the U.S.
“We are very pleased to join the efforts of the Smartway Partnership and actively participate in identifying ways to reduce our carbon emissions in the transportation of our fabric and thread products,” Jimmy Summers, chief sustainability officer for Elevate, said. “Across our brands, we are committed to being a market leader and responsible manufacturer, and that includes the transportation of our goods through our own private fleet and outsourced resources. The actions of the Smartway Partnership very much align to Elevate’s goal to achieve an annual trajectory of 2.5 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.”
Developed jointly in early 2003 by the EPA and Charter Partners represented by industry stakeholders, environmental groups, American Trucking Associations and Business for Social Responsibility, the Smartway program was launched in 2004. Partners rely on SmartWay tools and approaches to track and reduce emissions and fuel use from the movement of goods.
The partnership’s fuel savings to date are equivalent to eliminating annual energy use in over 20 million homes.
Last month, Elevate Textiles joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), joining more than 250 global brands, retailers and manufacturers, as well as government, non-profit environmental organizations and academic institutions that are collectively committed to improving supply chain sustainability in the apparel, footwear and textile industry.
In its relationship with SAC, Elevate will contribute data and resources to support the Higg Index, a tool that Elevate brands have been using since 2014, including the more recent addition of independently verified self-audits.