Charles River Apparel (asi/44620) is ramping up its commitment to environmental responsibility, earning a Bronze medal from EcoVadis after its first assessment by the business sustainability platform.

EcoVadis, which has been gaining popularity in the promo world, evaluates companies across four key pillars: environmental impact, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Charles River Apparel noted that it performed particularly well in the sustainable procurement pillar, ranking in the top 9% of companies within its industry – and highlighting its strong practices around supply chain responsibility and transparency.

“This recognition from EcoVadis means a lot to us – not just because of where we ranked, but because of what it reflects,” said Jason Lipsett, president of Charles River Apparel. “It affirms that the actions we’ve made are creating real impact. We’re proud of this progress and focused on continuing to go further.”

As part of its commitment, Charles River Apparel said it’s ensuring that all new styles moving forward will incorporate environmentally conscious materials, such as recycled polyester and organic cotton, without compromising the quality, durability or performance. The supplier is also focused on reducing its carbon footprint through initiatives that include participating in the UPS carbon-neutral shipping program, which offsets emissions associated with product delivery.

Charles River Apparel’s environmental responsibility extends to partnerships with charitable organizations. The supplier will sponsor and participate in the Charles River Watershed Association’s annual Earth Day Cleanup again this year, with employees volunteering to help remove litter, manage invasive species and restore green spaces to a portion of the Charles River – the company’s namesake.

On a national level, Charles River Apparel supports American Rivers, a nonprofit working to make every river clean and healthy for people and wildlife across the United States. The company contributed $25,000 toward nationwide river conservation, restoration and advocacy. The initiatives are part of the supplier’s broader Charles River Cares program, which focuses on four areas: environmental conservation, disaster relief, homelessness and poverty, and cancer and wellness.

Charles River Apparel plans to continue participation in EcoVadis assessments annually, with the aim of increasing its ranking as it moves further along its sustainability journey.

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