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  • Overall approach
    4/16
    • Overarching commitment on deforestation
      0/6
      Deforestation commitment
      Commodity-specific commitment
      0/6
      Commodities (if applicable): Pulp & Paper
      "Reducing Deforestation: Gap Inc. will eliminate all wood-based fibers sourced from ancient & endangered forests by 2020.By 2020, we’ll eliminate the use of any wood-derived fabrics (like rayon, viscose, lyocell, and modal) made from the pulp from ancient and endangered forests."
      Open source document
    • Signatory to an initiative tackling deforestation
      1/1
      Signatory
      Yes
      1/1
      Which initiatives?: UN Global Compact
      "As one of the world's leading apparel retailers, we recognize that we contribute to and have the opportunity to address systemic social and environmental challenges. That’s why we joined the UN Global Compact in 2003 and have aligned our sustainability strategy with the United Nations global sustainable development agenda, including frameworks such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change. "
      Open source document
    • Awareness of the value of forests
      1/1
      Awareness
      Yes
      1/1
      "With our new policy, we are joining an important industry-wide effort to tackle this issue and help protect ancient and endangered forests. By taking these steps to protect these critical forests, we’re also furthering our climate change efforts, as trees are vital natural resources that help to combat climate change by removing carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere."
      Open source document
    • Deforestation as a business risk
      1/1
      Business risk
      Yes
      1/1
      Does the company recognise the risk as financial, operational, competition, reputational, or other? Please detail.: Not specified
      "Our Global Sustainability team works withbusiness partners and experts to assessthe importance of potential social andenvironmental risks and opportunities forour business and external stakeholders,including suppliers and the people whomake our products. These include therisks that climate and environmentalimpacts could pose to our business."
      Open source document
    • High-level management of deforestion
      1/1
      High-level management
      Yes
      1/1
      How often does the committee or board meet to assess company's progress on addressing deforestation-related issues?: At least four times a year

      Which commodities does it apply to?: Pulp & Paper
      The Governance and Sustainability Committee is mandated to "Review and evaluate company programs, policies and practices relating to social andenvironmental issues and impacts to support the sustainable growth of the company'sbusinesses" - this includes Gap's policy on sustainable fibre sourcing, which avoids deforestation of endangered and ancient forests
      Open source document
    • Executive compensation linked to deforestation
    • Target to reduce emissions from land-use change
      0/3
    • Reporting on emissions from land-use change
      0/3
    • Disclosure of conservation activity
    • Disclosure of reforestation activity
  • Commodity score
    16/84
    • Leather
      7/84
      • Commitment Strength
        0/28
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          0/17
          • Commitment details
            No commitment
            0/10.7
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/3
          • Target date
            No target date
            0/2
          • Interim target date
            No
            0/1
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/11
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/5.3
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/3
          • Target date
            No target date
            0/2
          • Interim target date
            No
            0/1
      • Social Considerations
        6/18
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Details of commitment: Discrimination; Forced Labour; Child Labour; Freedom of association
          "This Code of Vendor Conduct (COVC)applies to all facilities that produce goodsfor Gap Inc. or any of its subsidiaries,divisions, affiliates or agents [...] CHILD LABOR: At the facility, all workers shall meet the applicable legal minimum agerequirements or are at least 15 years of age, whichever is greater [...] DISCRIMINATION: The facility shall employ workers on the basis of their ability to do thejob, not on the basis of their personal characteristics or beliefs [...] FORCED LABOR:The facility shall not use involuntary labor of any kind, including prison labor,debt bondage, slave labor, or forced labor by governments [...] FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION:The facility shall recognize that workers are free to join associations of their ownchoosing."
          Open source document
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          Inclusion of women in the supply chain
          2/4
          Gender equality in the supply chain
          Inclusion of women in the supply chain
          2/4
          "Our COVC prohibits any form of discrimination during hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on gender." "Launched in 2007, our innovative Personal Advancement & Career Enhancement (P.A.C.E.) program was initially created to support women in the global apparel industry. . .and expanded the program to community settings in 2013 to unlock new possibilities for women and adolescent girls."
          Open source document
          Open source document
        • Commitment to remediation
          No
          0/2
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          No commitment
          0/4
      • Reporting and Implementation
        1/38
        • Reporting against commitments
          0/6
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/3
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/3
        • Reporting is independently verified
          0/4
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/2
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/2
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Risk assessments for forest risk
          No
          0/2
        • Operations assessed to comply with law
          No
          0/2
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Report volumes of commodity
          No reporting
          0/4
        • Downstream: Publishing supplier lists
          Yes report direct suppliers
          2/4
          Downstream: Publishing supplier lists
          Yes report direct suppliers
          2/4
          Open source document
        • Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          No engagement or exclusion
          0/2
        • Downstream: Disclosure of non-compliant suppliers
          No disclosure
          0/2
    • Pulp & Paper
      25/84
      • Commitment Strength
        14/28
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          8/12
          • Commitment details
            Protects priority forests
            4/8
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Protects priority forests
            4/8
            "By 2020, eliminating the use of wood-derived fibers made of dissolving pulp from ancient and endangered forest areas"
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            "we are committed to: • By 2020, eliminating the use of wood-derived fibers made of dissolving pulp from ancient and endangered forest areas such as the Canadian and Russian Boreal Forests; coastal temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest and Chile; tropical forests and peatlands of Indonesia, the Amazon, and West Africa [...] Giving preference to suppliers that use effective strategies to actively reduce their greenhouse gas footprint, and to fabric sources from responsibly managed forests certified to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification system."
            Open source document
          • Target date
            Current/2020/Pre-2020
            1.3/1.3
            Target date
            Current/2020/Pre-2020
            1.3/1.3
            "we are committed to: • By 2020, eliminating the use of wood-derived fibers made of dissolving pulp from ancient and endangered forest areas such as the Canadian and Russian Boreal Forests; coastal temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest and Chile; tropical forests and peatlands of Indonesia, the Amazon, and West Africa [...] Giving preference to suppliers that use effective strategies to actively reduce their greenhouse gas footprint, and to fabric sources from responsibly managed forests certified to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification system."
            Open source document
          • Interim target date
            Yes
            0.7/0.7
            Interim target date
            Yes
            0.7/0.7
            "we are committed to: • By 2020, eliminating the use of wood-derived fibers made of dissolving pulp from ancient and endangered forest areas such as the Canadian and Russian Boreal Forests; coastal temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest and Chile; tropical forests and peatlands of Indonesia, the Amazon, and West Africa [...] Giving preference to suppliers that use effective strategies to actively reduce their greenhouse gas footprint, and to fabric sources from responsibly managed forests certified to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification system."
            Open source document
        • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
          6/8
          • Commitment details
            Yes
            4/4
            Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            Yes
            4/4
            Type of commitment: Recycled content
            "Statement On Recycled Paper Sourcing - June 4, 2019 - Beginning this fall, Gap Inc. will produce its Athleta catalog using 100% FSC-certified, post-consumer waste recycled paper. As a result of this shift, the company will no longer source paper from Resolute Forest Products."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/2
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/2
            If no, what is excluded?: Product line
            "Statement On Recycled Paper Sourcing - June 4, 2019 - Beginning this fall, Gap Inc. will produce its Athleta catalog using 100% FSC-certified, post-consumer waste recycled paper. As a result of this shift, the company will no longer source paper from Resolute Forest Products."
            Open source document
          • Target date
            Current/2020/Pre-2020
            1.3/1.3
            Target date
            Current/2020/Pre-2020
            1.3/1.3
            "Statement On Recycled Paper Sourcing - June 4, 2019 - Beginning this fall, Gap Inc. will produce its Athleta catalog using 100% FSC-certified, post-consumer waste recycled paper. As a result of this shift, the company will no longer source paper from Resolute Forest Products."
            Open source document
          • Interim target date
            Yes
            0.7/0.7
            Interim target date
            Yes
            0.7/0.7
            What date is given for the interim milestone(s)?: 2019
            "Statement On Recycled Paper Sourcing - June 4, 2019 - Beginning this fall, Gap Inc. will produce its Athleta catalog using 100% FSC-certified, post-consumer waste recycled paper. As a result of this shift, the company will no longer source paper from Resolute Forest Products."
            Open source document
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/8
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/4
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            No
            0/2
          • Target date
            No target date
            0/1.3
          • Interim target date
            No
            0/0.7
      • Social Considerations
        8/18
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Details of commitment: Discrimination; Forced Labour; Child Labour; Freedom of association
          "This Code of Vendor Conduct (COVC)applies to all facilities that produce goodsfor Gap Inc. or any of its subsidiaries,divisions, affiliates or agents [...] CHILD LABOR: At the facility, all workers shall meet the applicable legal minimum agerequirements or are at least 15 years of age, whichever is greater [...] DISCRIMINATION: The facility shall employ workers on the basis of their ability to do thejob, not on the basis of their personal characteristics or beliefs [...] FORCED LABOR:The facility shall not use involuntary labor of any kind, including prison labor,debt bondage, slave labor, or forced labor by governments [...] FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION:The facility shall recognize that workers are free to join associations of their ownchoosing."
          Open source document
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          Inclusion of women in the supply chain
          2/4
          Gender equality in the supply chain
          Inclusion of women in the supply chain
          2/4
          "Our COVC prohibits any form of discrimination during hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on gender." "Launched in 2007, our innovative Personal Advancement & Career Enhancement (P.A.C.E.) program was initially created to support women in the global apparel industry. . .and expanded the program to community settings in 2013 to unlock new possibilities for women and adolescent girls."
          Open source document
          Open source document
        • Commitment to remediation
          No
          0/2
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes the company commits to securing FPIC prior to acquiring new interests/developments/expansions
          2/4
          Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes the company commits to securing FPIC prior to acquiring new interests/developments/expansions
          2/4
          "Avoiding the use of wood-derived fibers logged illegally, sourced from tree farms established after 1994 through the conversion or simplification of natural forests; or from areas being logged in contravention of indigenous peoples’ rights; or without obtaining Free, Prior and Informed Consent of local and indigenous communities, or from controversial suppliers."
          Open source document
      • Reporting and Implementation
        3/38
        • Reporting against commitments
          0/6
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/2
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/2
            Open source document
          • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            No
            0/2
            Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            No
            0/2
            Does the company report on the degree of compliance/progress with commitments, disaggregated by relevant factors such as origin or supply chain stage?: No
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/2
        • Reporting is independently verified
          0/4
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/1.3
          • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            No
            0/1.3
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/1.3
        • Deforestation cut off date
          Yes
          2/2
          Deforestation cut off date
          Yes
          2/2
          Cut-off date: 1994
          "To achieve this, we are committed to: [...] Avoiding the use of wood-derived fibers logged illegally, sourcedfrom tree farms established after 1994 through the conversion orsimplification of natural forests"
          Open source document
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Risk assessments for forest risk
          No
          0/2
        • Operations assessed to comply with law
          No
          0/2
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Report volumes of commodity
          No reporting
          0/4
        • Downstream: Publishing supplier lists
          No disclosure
          0/4
        • Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes for its suppliers only
          3/4
          Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes for its suppliers only
          3/4
          Details of monitoring: Using internal monitoring and verification systems; Using third party verification

          What percentage of the company's supply chain volume does that represent?: 100%

          For what percent of suppliers does the company directly monitor compliance of production or processing operations?: 100%

          For what percentage of suppliers does the company use/rely on external mechanisms to monitor compliance?: 0% Not Specified

          How frequently is compliance assessed?: not specified
          "To achieve our commitment, we are partnering with mills on the following: identifying our raw-material suppliers in order to eliminate sourcing of wood-derived fibers from ancient and endangered forests, leveraging CanopyStyle’s audit and remediation plan and encouraging the development of innovative fabrics. In partnership with our major suppliers, we are also exploring ways to integrate recycled cellulosics into our products. In 2018, we gathered data on our supply chain representing more than 80 percent of our cellulosic fiber volume through an internal survey and multiple conversations with suppliers. Through this data, we show that 77 percent of our cellulosic volume is compliant with our commitment.."
          Open source document
        • Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          1/2
          Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          1/2
          What criteria does the policy specify for blacklisting or exclusion?: non-compliance with the sustainability commitment

          What type of support does the company offer to its suppliers to help them achieve compliance with commitments?: remediation plans

          Does the company engage non-compliant indirect suppliers in order to address and remedy non-compliance?: Yes
          "To achieve our commitment, we are partnering with mills on the following: identifying our raw-material suppliers in order to eliminate sourcing of wood-derived fibers from ancient and endangered forests, leveraging Canopy Style’s audit and remediation plan and encouraging the development of innovative fabrics.[...] We still have work to do to engage additional suppliers to take the Canopy audit and have some engaged suppliers commit to a remediation plan."
          Open source document
        • Downstream: Disclosure of non-compliant suppliers
          No disclosure
          0/2
  • Commitment strength
    7/28
    Avg. score
  • Reporting and Implementation
    2/38
    Avg. score
  • Social considerations
    7/18
    Avg. score

Profile

Gap is an American retailer of clothes and accessories operating 3,700 own brand and franchise stores around the world, as well as having an online presence. Well-known brands include Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy. Gap is one of the top clothing and footwear retailers selling exclusively own brand products in the world by brand share. It has significant presence in the US, Asia and Europe. Gap Inc. is selected as a powerbroker for leather and pulp & paper.

Sector
Industry sector 
Accessories & luggage, Apparel & footwear
Segments
Manufacturer, Retailer
HQ
HQ 
United States
Company Type
Company type 
Public listed
Collective Commitments
Consumer Goods Forum member
New York Declaration on Forests signatory

Top Brands

GAP, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, InterMix, Hill City, Janie and Jack

How we assess the Forest 500

To ensure deforestation free supply chains, companies need to adopt and implement timebound and measurable policies for forest risk commodities.

All assessments use policies published on company websites, some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Full corporate sector performance data Forest 500 assessment methodology

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Disclaimer

This assessment has been carried out following the methodology developed for the Forest 500 project, available here. Please see our disclaimer applicable to all information contained within this site and our terms and conditions for use of data presented on this site.

All assessments use policies published on company and financial institution websites, and while we endeavor to keep them updated some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Please contact us with any concerns or feedback about this or other assessments included in the Forest 500.