W.L. Gore & Associates has created a new sustainability framework for its Gore Fabrics Division that reflects its long-term commitment to protecting the environment, while prolonging product life and the well-being of people.
A key strategic initiative supporting the framework is a science-based goal to reduce carbon emissions by 2030 and to become carbon neutral by 2050.
“Decarbonization of our economy is absolutely essential in order to minimize climate change and its dramatic consequences,” Ross MacLaine, sustainability team leader of the Gore Fabrics Division, said. “That’s why we are setting absolute, science-based carbon goals for our Gore-Tex brand and are working towards carbon neutrality by 2050.”
The sustainability framework is informed by global trends and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It reflects a continued effort to maximize the societal value Gore delivers through its operations, supply chains and innovations, and a commitment to reduce the environmental footprint of Gore’s operations and products.
“With our new sustainability framework, we aim to redefine performance beyond technical product features to the benefit of both people and the planet,” MacLaine said. “We will continue to focus our efforts on sustainability led innovations and our initiatives to maximize the societal value we create. Alongside this, there is a continual commitment to work to minimize the environmental impact of our operations and products.”
One key strategic initiative of the sustainability framework is to reduce the division’s contribution to climate change. In 2019, the Gore Fabrics Division completed a comprehensive evaluation of its carbon footprint to understand the size and scope of the division´s climate impact. Using 2016 as a baseline, Gore Fabrics followed a rigorous science-based methodology in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard, to set carbon goals for its Gore-Tex brand to reduce emissions from production and sourced energy, as well as from product-related emissions.
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The Gore Fabrics Division is setting absolute carbon reduction goals for its Gore-Tex brand that include reducing absolute carbon emissions originating in Gore’s manufacturing sites and offices 60 percent and absolute product-related carbon emissions 35 percent by 2030, and working toward carbon neutrality by 2050.
These ambitious goals reflect the Gore-Tex brand’s commitment to support the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. To achieve these goals that decouple economic growth from environmental impact, the Gore-Tex brand has defined three initial key action areas.
They are to reduce energy consumption and continue to introduce renewable energy at Gore’s manufacturing sites; optimize product design, balancing durable performance with lower-footprint materials while maintaining fitness for use, and working with suppliers to reduce their plants’ emissions by switching from fossil-fuel-generated energy to renewable energy, while increasing efficiency.
Gore was a pioneer in the outerwear industry when it introduced its waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex fabric more than 40 years ago and remains a leading innovator of performance apparel. W. L. Gore & Associates is a global materials science company dedicated to transforming industries and improving lives. With more than 10,500 associates, Gore generates annual revenues of $3.7 billion.