Elevate Textiles Leads Industry Sustainability Initiatives

Charlotte, NC – Elevate Textiles, a global provider of advanced, high-quality products and mission critical textile solutions, continues its leadership in sustainability and sustainable manufacturing as the first global textile manufacturer to receive validation of its Science Based Target (SBTi) goals related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the highest levels recommended.  As part of its commitment, Elevate recently increased its original greenhouse gas emission reduction target from 2.5% to 4.2% per year across its portfolio brands of American & Efird (A&E), Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann and Safety Components.

Specific Elevate brands have emerged as leaders in their respective markets including A&E as the first thread manufacturer to receive approved targets; Burlington as the first performance woven fabrics manufacturer to receive approved targets; and Cone Denim as the first denim mills to receive approved targets.

“Gaining approval of our Science Based Targets is a milestone in our sustainability journey,” says Jimmy Summers, Chief Sustainability Officer for Elevate Textiles.   “Elevate is excited to lead as the first global textile manufacturer to achieve this recognition, further validating our work to reduce GHG emissions in line with climate science and in collaboration with many other private and public sector organizations. Our efforts to reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions will also reduce our customers’ Scope 3 emissions. This collaborative effort is not only good for our brands and our customers, but also strengthens Elevate’s joint commitment to responsible and sustainable production worldwide.”

Elevate first joined the SBTi in September 2019 and began work on evaluating and setting aggressive Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emission goals as part of its overall 2025 Sustainability commitments. Since that time the company has furthered its commitment by joining the Business Ambition 1.5°C Campaign and assessing emissions reduction targets across the entire value chain.  Elevate’s approved targets include a 46.2% reduction in absolute scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from a 2019 baseline, as well as a 46.2% reduction in several scope 3 categories -purchased goods and services, processing of sold products, and fuel and energy related emissions – within the same timeline.  Elevate has also set a long-term target to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050, as part of the Business Ambition for 1.5C Campaign.

Science-based targets provide companies with a clearly defined pathway to future-proof growth by specifying how much and how quickly they need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The Science Based Targets initiative champions science-based target setting as a powerful way of boosting companies’ competitive advantage in the transition to the low-carbon economy. It is a collaboration between CDP, World Resources Institute (WRI), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).

For more information about Elevate’s sustainability initiatives, visit elevatetextiles.com. For more information on the Business Ambition for 1.5°C Campaign or the SBTi, visit sciencebasedtargets.org/business-ambition-for-1-5c.