PPB May 2018

incredible success in sustainability, Fox noticed that newcomers to the apparel industry were getting more traction by marketing themselves as CSR enthusiasts. Recognizing that HanesBrands needed to do more to make its efforts known, the entire CSR effort was rebranded as Hanes for Good. “We do realize that the space has reached a tipping point, and by not saying enough, we are doing ourselves a disservice because that vacuum is filled with what people assume,” says Fox. As an example, HanesBrands acquired Alternative Apparel—a supplier that dedicates itself to sustainable products—in October 2017. When they learned about the processes in place at HanesBrands, the principals at Alternative were thrilled. “While we can focus on the manufacturing process, smaller suppliers or those that source their products have a much more difficult time affecting what goes on at the manufacturing level,” says Fox. “For example, we will consume more recycled polyester [for cotton/poly fleece] than an Alternative Apparel could put in their product in decades. As a result, the story that Alternative can now tell is much stronger.” In addition to environmentalism, Fox is equally passionate about community development. Roughly 10 years ago, he was looking to fund an extensive community improvement program that would target projects such as health care, education and infrastructure development for the communities where HanesBrands factories operate. In a brainstorming session, he and one of his employees, Frank Vasquez—who grew up in the Dominican Republic—came up with the idea of funding these projects through recycling. Green for Good, a company-wide philanthropic program, was born. “We took a hard look at waste in manufacturing, including trash on the floor, skids and cardboard—anything that was sent to landfills—and figured out how to sell it to recyclers. Every year, the program generates about $2 million, much of which funds community projects in El Salvador, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Europe and Asia,” says Fox. For the roughly 60,000 manufacturing employees at HanesBrands, the results of Green for Good have been life changing. Each year, Fox attends the high school graduation ceremonies for the company’s employees in the continuing education program. In 2017, of the 150 graduates in Honduras, the one he remembers most is Felipa Benitez, who was the graduation speaker. Benitez, a 34-year-old mother of two, could not read or write and had never attended school when she was hired by HanesBrands eight years ago. Starting at the first-grade level, she completed high school, triumphantly read her graduation speech at the ceremony and was awarded a college scholarship by HanesBrands. Fox stresses that CSR is different for every company and is based on many factors, including the supply chain model. For apparel companies wanting to shift toward a more CSR-focused culture, he recommends engaging with peer-to-peer organizations “My challenge was taking this big enterprise and effectively and appropriately using the resources to bothmeet the obligations to our shareholders and, at the same time, make a true and real difference in the lives of people.” —Chris Fox HanesBrands employees in the Dominican Republic give back to their community by initiating a comprehensive beach cleanup on Playa Linda. | MAY 2018 | 21 INNOVATE