GHG emissions:

Gap has set an emissions reduction target for its own operations of 90% by 2030 from a 2017 baseline, which is in line with keeping warming below 1.5°C.

The company has also set an emissions reduction target for its supply chain of 30% by 2030 from a 2017 baseline. This target is not in line with the 55% reduction required.

Renewable energy:

Gap has set a renewable energy target in its own operations of 100% by 2030, and the energy will be additional to the grid, which is commendable.

However, Gap has yet to set a target of 100% renewable energy for its supply chain by 2030, which is an essential step for decarbonising its manufacturing.

Coal phase out:

As a signatory of the renewed UN Fashion Charter, Gap has committed to phasing out coal-fired boilers from its supply chain by 2030 to reduce air pollution and cut emissions.

GHG emissions:

Gap publicly reports GHG emissions in its own operations, and in its supply chain. The company does provide a full breakdown of its Scope 3 emissions.

Energy use:

Gap does publicly report its energy use for its own operations, including a breakdown of its renewable energy use and how that energy is sourced.

For its supply chain, Gap does not publicly report its energy use, a breakdown of its suppliers’ renewable energy use, or how that energy is sourced.

Suppliers:

Gap provides a partial supplier list to Tier 1 or 2.

Gap provides its suppliers with training and resources to help them make energy efficiency improvements. Gap does report providing its major suppliers with incentives for energy efficiency measures using a vendor Scorecard system, but does not report offering specific financial support. Gap does not require suppliers to make energy savings as a condition of contract.

Gap does not require suppliers to reduce thermal coal demand in their manufacturing processes.

Gap does report engaging “strategic suppliers to commit to exploring renewable energy opportunities”, but it is not clear whether it provides its suppliers with training and resources to help them transition to renewable energy. The company also does not appear to provide financial support or incentives to make the energy transition. It does not require suppliers to use renewable energy as a condition of contract.

Gap does require its Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers to disclose GHG emissions data and require suppliers to provide facility level data via the Higg Index. However, the company does not require them to set GHG emissions reduction targets.

Gap has not made any commitments to phase out fossil fuel based materials.

Gap has not made a public policy to ban the sourcing of leather from the Amazon Biome or taken measurable steps to ensure that Amazon leather is not contributing to deforestation, and the company does not appear to have processes in place to avoid leather sourced from deforested regions. Gap does have a general policy against contributing to deforestation through other materials including cellulose-based fabrics by eliminating wood fibre from ancient and endangered, high conservation and high carbon-value forest areas to make cellulose-based textiles by 2020.

Low-carbon materials:

Gap has not committed to increasing closed-loop apparel-to-apparel recycling for synthetics and plant-based materials. It committed to increasing their sourcing of recycled polyester to at least 45 percent of polyester used by 2025, with some brands, such as Old Navy, setting an even higher target, but the polyester will be from recycled bottles, which does not reduce textile waste. Gap has committed to reduce the impact of its raw materials sourcing by switching to 100% organic cotton or cotton sourced from regenerative agriculture.

Increasing circularity:

Gap is acting slowly to increase circularity and address overproduction by policies to improve the repairability, resale, durability and recyclability of its clothes. The company is addressing overproduction with initial efforts to improve resale and recyclability, but larger efforts are needed to match its market share and contribute to reducing production.

Gap does not publicly report its material mix, its volume of deadstock or how it manages or disposes of its deadstock to reduce waste.

Gap does report its shipping emissions annually, but does not have a target to reduce GHG emissions from transportation and does not provide a breakdown of its transportation methods.

Gap does not have a policy to avoid aviation and commit to slower shipping methods such as maritime, rail and land. The company does not report having a near-term plan to ship its cargo via cleaner methods. Additionally, Gap created dramatically more transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions between 2019 and 2021, reporting a rise in emissions of more than 600%.

Gap has not committed to transitioning to zero emissions vessels (ZEV) by 2030. The company has not used its voice publicly to advocate for Zero Emission Shipping.

Gap has yet to commit to transitioning its last-mile delivery to zero emission vehicles.

Gap is in coalition with 39 other companies to sign the Clean Energy Demand Initiative (CEDI) Global Letter of Intent. This letter calls for a global clean energy transition in partnership with governments, non-profits, and other organizations. The company joined a discussion at LEAD with Ceres, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, other business leaders, and lawmakers calling for U.S. federal climate and clean energy policy to meet the urgency and scale of the climate crisis. The company supported the Inflation Reduction Act which included investments related to reducing climate related risks to the economy. Additionally, the company signed onto a letter to U.S. members of Congress advocating for the passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Gap was active within this category in the United States, but should do more to advocate for renewable energy overseas in supply chain regions.