Apparel giant PVH Corp has received an Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) from the US Secretary of State in recognition of its role as lead investor in the apparel manufacturing facility at Hawassa in Ethiopia.
The owner of brands including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen, Warner’s and Izod, is one of just two winners of the 2018 ACE, which acknowledges US firms that uphold high standards of responsible business conduct.
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PVH is receiving the Sustainable Operations award for helping to contribute to the growth and sustainable development of the local economies in which it works.
“We are in a unique position to make positive impacts in the places around the world where we work and live. One of those places is Ethiopia, where we set out almost five years ago to create a sustainable, vertically integrated, apparel manufacturing industry,” says Emanuel Chirico, chairman and CEO, PVH Corp.
In 2014, PVH approached some of its best suppliers to share its vision for Africa. The company set out to implement international standards and practices in building, fire and worker safety, environmental sustainability, as well as human rights to establish a stable manufacturing economy.
“Today, we are seeing our vision come to life at the Hawassa Industrial Park. We have focused on protecting the local environment, using sustainable energy and ensuring sufficient supplies of clean water. Creating a safe and inclusive workplace is also a priority, which provides real opportunities for the residents of the surrounding area.”
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By GlobalDataThe Hawassa Industrial Park is expected to result collectively in 60,000 jobs within a few years and features state-of-the-art machinery focused on environmentally advanced practices. The park’s Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) effluent treatment facility recycles over 90% of the wastewater produced in the park. This helps preserve Lake Hawassa, which serves as the community’s water supply and is the center of the local ecosystem.
“The ultimate goal for PVH’s model industrial park is to provide a better future not only for the workers and their families, but also to inspire responsible industrialization across Ethiopia for the betterment of its entire population and the creation of a new market for US goods,” according to a statement from the State Department.
The award for Sustainable Operations will be presented at the annual ACE ceremony in Washington DC on 5 October.
See also: How Ethiopia’s flagship textile and apparel park is taking shape
