Each year, Walmart Inc. recognizes which of its suppliers is making the biggest impact by leaving the most negligible impact environmentally and applauds its assistance in helping Walmart reach its own sustainability goals, the company said in a press release. This year, the award went to Epic Group, which produces low water denim jeans for Walmart, which uses a staggering 60% less water in the fabric dyeing, finishing, and laundry processes than conventional processes. Epic Group was chosen for this accolade from the global supply chain of Walmart, including leading consumer brands proving that their ethos, ‘Relentless pursuit of better’ is something the group is enacting.
Independently, Epic Group’s Higg Index score is on schedule to hit 75 by 2023, with their current average score reaching 63. The group has achieved a 14.7% reduction in carbon intensity and a water intensity reduction of 15.3% from their 2017 baseline. The number of risky chemicals used in operations has also been reduced from 77 to 5. Epic Group is also investing in rooftop solar systems in their factories to reduce overall emissions further. Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) assessment monitors Epic Group’s upstream supply chain. The group works with its supply chain and partners to improve its environmental performance.
Vidhura Ralapanawe, Epic Group’s head of sustainability, said, “We are delighted for this recognition and even prouder to be the launch partner for Walmart’s sustainability range. We can now boast 4.8 million garments created from sustainable fibers, including organic cotton, recycled polyester, and sustainable manmade cellulose fibers.”
For over decades, Epic Group has been a key player in the apparel industry – first as a major textiles trading house, then as a leader in sourcing quality fabrics, and since 2005 as a state-of-the-art manufacturing company with facilities in Bangladesh, Jordan, Vietnam and Ethiopia.
