Social & Environmental Responsibility

GapWe believe being a socially and environmentally responsible company means going beyond the basics of ethical business practices to embrace a broader, deeper responsibility to people and the planet.

Acting responsibly is a compass by which we run our business. It informs our decisions and focuses the daily efforts of thousands of people within Gap Inc. and beyond. We know from experience that it also brings sustained, collective value to our employees, customers, shareholders, suppliers and society by helping to ensure the long-term health and viability of our business and the communities in which we operate. Our work to promote social and environmental progress inspires our employees and supports retention and recruiting efforts. It promotes innovation and creativity, as we find new ways to use resources more wisely. And it motivates our customers in today’s socially and environmentally conscious marketplace.

Did you know?

  • 100 percent of our branded denim is made in compliance with our Water Quality Program.
  • We have introduced a Human Rights Policy that strengthens our existing global Codes of Vendor & Business Conduct.
  • Much of our work supports underserved youth in the developed world & women in the developing world.

For more great information please visit www.gapinc.com/socialresponsibility


Community Investment

Our vision for building stronger communities is simple: to create opportunities for people to own their future and fulfill their personal promise. Our mantra, “Be What’s Possible,” is a call to action to give forward, not just give back. We focus our investments on creating opportunities for underserved youth in the developed world and women in the developing world because, based on our company’s assets, we see the greatest potential for impact in these areas. We also look for opportunities to deepen our impact through other activities and initiatives. We consider the organizations we support to be partners, not “grantees,” and provide them with programming and company assets beyond cash grants to help them maximize their impact in the community. And we invest in service leadership to unlock the power of volunteerism across the world.

Our strategy: Applying business innovation to social challenges

Businesses use innovation every day to solve problems and create opportunities. At Gap Inc., we apply this thinking to community investment, using innovation to solve social problems and create new possibilities. We have been practicing this new way of investing in our communities for more than five years, and as we begin to see positive results from our strategy, we’re encouraged to continue along this path. Such innovation requires thoughtful risk-taking, an appetite for learning from our mistakes and a host of supportive partners to make it happen.