All News

Gap Inc. and their iconic brands join CanopyStyle to protect the world's forests

Published:

by: Laura Repas

  • CanopyStyle
  • Media release
Closing the Gap on Protecting Forests and Climate : Gap Inc. Latest US Brand to Join CanopyStyle to Eliminate Endangered Forests from Rayon   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Vancouver, August 2, 2017: International not-for-profit Canopy is thrilled to announce that Gap Inc., the largest specialty retailer in the United States, is bringing their significant brand cache and market influence to CanopyStyle. Now the fastest moving environmental initiative in the fashion industry, CanopyStyle has over 100 global brands and designers, worth 130B USD in global market share, pledged to end the use of ancient and endangered forests in their rayon and viscose supply chain. There has been a spike in 2017 in US fashion brands and organizations joining the effort to help conserve the world’s forests, as currently over 120 million trees are logged to make rayon each year.

 

Gap Inc., which includes the iconic namesake The GAP, as well as Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, and Intermix, announced their Wood-Derived Raw Materials Policy as a key initiative in their efforts to combat global climate change and forest degradation. Gap Inc. has committed to work with Canopy, the CanopyStyle brands and global rayon and viscose producers to free the supply chain of ancient and endangered forest fiber from controversial sources.

 

“With global forests storing more than 700 billion tons of carbon, it’s great news that Gap Inc. is bringing their five instantly recognizable brands and considerable market share to Canopy’s work to protect the world’s endangered and high carbon value forests,” said Nicole Rycroft, Canopy’s Executive Director. “We’ve seen a strong surge in US brands taking action to stop their rayon fabrics from contributing to deforestation or forest degradation in 2017 and welcome the Gap Inc. to this broader movement of US brands taking climate leadership.”

 

According to the United Nations, global forests are the second largest storehouse of greenhouse gases and 25% of the global population – 1.6 billion people – depend on forests for their survival and livelihood.

 

Today’s announcement follows hot on the heels of the partnerships announced between Canopy and the US Fashion Industry Association (USFIA), and its 200 US-based brands as well as large US conglomerate VF Corporation, which includes brands such as The North Face, Timberland and Vans. The collaboration between Canopy and Gap Inc. is the latest milestone in the CanopyStyle movement to ensure that being stylish doesn’t have to cost the earth.

  Man-made cellulosic fibres are commonly referred to as either viscose, or as rayon, and encompass rayon, viscose, modal and other trademarked fabrics such as Tencel or Lyocell.  

 

  For more information:  

Laura Repas
Marketing Communications Specialist
+1-416-729-7484   Canopy is a not-for-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting forests, species and climate. Canopy collaborates with more than 700 companies to develop innovative solutions, make their supply chains more sustainable and help protect our world’s remaining ancient and endangered forests. Canopy’s partners include H&M, Sprint, Penguin/Random House, Zara, TC Transcontinental, The Guardian and Scholastic. Canopy’s work relies on the support of individual donors who share our passion for the planet. https://www.canopyplanet.org
Author

Laura
Repas

Marketing Communications Specialist

Newsletter

Stay updated

Learn about how we work to conserve the world’s forests and stabilize our climate. Sign up to receive news, important updates about our work, and ways you can take action.