Gap Gets Greener
The Gap Inc. has a grand scheme to get greener. In its most recent “Social and Environmental Responsibility” report, the San Francisco–based retailer pledged to reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions 20 percent by 2015. This follows on its previous pledge to reduce its carbon footprint from 2003 to 2008 by 20 percent. To do that, Gap reduced its electricity consumption at its distribution centers by switching out 16,000 light bulbs to more energy-efficient bulbs for a 40 percent savings in electrical consumption. More space-efficient containers and redesigned packaging eliminated 57,000 tons of cardboard and 63 million yards of plastic bands a year from Gap’s U.S. operations, saving about $20 million a year.
