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Collaboration for Impact

As we progress on our Global Citizenship & Sustainability journey, we continue to seek deep collaborations through memberships, initiatives and partnerships to help us drive meaningful impact within our Company, our industry and society.

Memberships

We are active members of the following organizations:

A partnership between the UN’s International Labor Organization and the International Finance Corporation and a member of the World Bank Group, Better Work brings diverse groups together – governments, global brands, factory owners, unions and workers – to improve working conditions in the garment industry and make the sector more competitive.

BSR™ is an organization of sustainable business experts that works with its global network of the world’s leading companies to build a just and sustainable world.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America Inc. (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1962, whose membership consists of over 450 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry and accessory designers. The mission of the CFDA is to strengthen the impact of American fashion in the global economy.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is an international charity, committed to the creation of a circular economy. Driven by design, a circular economy eliminates waste and pollution, keeps products and materials in use, and regenerates natural systems, creating benefits for society, the environment and the economy.

The Leather Working Group aims to improve the environmental impact of the leather industry by assessing and certifying leather manufacturers.

Nest Sourcing is a radically transparent program designed to connect global handworkers to exciting market access opportunities across the retail landscape. By connecting small craft businesses directly with brands and opportunities, artisans and makers are able to expand their business without the risk of unethical middlemen.

Sustainable Apparel Coalition is an organization dedicated to transforming business for exponential impact through groundbreaking tools, collaborative partnerships and trusted leadership for industry sustainability.

Textile Exchange is a global nonprofit driving positive impact on climate change across the fashion and textile industry. It guides a growing community of brands, manufacturers and farmers toward more purposeful production from the very start of the supply chain, with the goal to drive a 45% reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions that come from producing fibers and raw materials by 2030.

WWF’s work in the Noyyal-Bhavani basin was launched in 2018 with a desire to take an integrated landscape approach to basin water stewardship efforts.

Initiatives

We have signed on to or implemented the following initiatives:

America Is All In is a coalition of U.S. cities, states, tribal nations, businesses, schools, faith, health and cultural institutions working to cut U.S. emissions in half by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050, while guarding against the impacts of climate disruption.

The Arctic Corporate Shipping Pledge is a voluntary commitment by consumer goods and shipping logistics companies to not send ships through the globally significant but rapidly melting sea ice and other unique habitats of the Arctic. Companies also commit to addressing greenhouse gas emissions in their supply chain to address the root cause of impacts on the Arctic marine ecosystem.

Gender Equality and Returns (GEAR) is a special initiative of Better Work Bangladesh – a program of the International Labor Organization and the International Finance Corporation – to promote equal opportunities in supervisory roles in garment factories.

BSR’s Responsible Luxury Initiative™ is a platform for all luxury sector companies to discuss, explore and develop collaborative solutions for emerging sustainability issues in their value chains.

The Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign is an urgent call-to-action from a global coalition of UN agencies, business and industry leaders. Today, the campaign consists of over 1000 companies that represent more than $23 trillion in market capitalization.

CDP is a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts, including climate change, water and forests.

CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to drive measurable action and meaningful change in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

The Clean Energy Buyers Association is a membership association for energy customers seeking to procure clean energy across the U.S. Today, its membership of over 300 includes stakeholders from across the commercial and industrial sector, non-profit organizations, as well as energy providers and service providers.

The Fashion Pact is a global coalition of companies in the fashion and textile industry including their suppliers and distributors, all committed to a common core of key environmental goals in three areas: stopping global warming, restoring biodiversity and protecting the oceans.

BSR's HERproject™ has a mission to unlock the full potential of women working in global supply chains through workplace-based interventions on health, financial inclusion and gender equality.

Open to All is a nonprofit nondiscrimination campaign that believes everyone should be welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, religion or disability.

Parity.org asks organizations to commit to interview and consider at least one qualified woman and person of color for every open role, VP and higher, including the C-suite and the Board.

PFAS, also called “forever chemicals,” is the collective name of for a group of 5,000 toxic chemicals used in many consumer products. The PFAS Movement gathers companies that support a ban on PFAS.

The Science Based Targets initiative drives ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling companies to set science-based emissions reduction targets.

The Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) promotes the SFA Cashmere Standard to encourage the adoption of responsible practices that benefit people, livestock and the environment. Their standard allows companies to demonstrate a commitment to transforming the cashmere sector and make credible claims about the sustainability of their cashmere products.

The Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action is guided by its mission to drive the fashion industry to net zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050 in line with keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees. Central to the Fashion Charter is the call for signatories to set science-based targets or halve their emissions by 2030 with a pledge to achieve net zero emissions no later than 2050.

The UN Global Compact aims to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders to create the world we want.

The Valuable 500’s mission is to use the power of business to drive lasting change for the 1.3 billion people around the world living with a disability.

Partnerships

We have formally partnered with the following organizations:

AIDS Walk New York is the world’s largest and most visible single-day HIV/AIDS fundraising event.

The American Indian College Fund invests in Native students and tribal college education to transform lives and communities.

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is dedicated to ending the global AIDS epidemic through innovative research.

APIA Scholars works to make a difference in the lives of APIA students by providing them with resources that increase their access to higher education which serves as the foundation for their future success and contributions to a more vibrant America.

The Apparel Impact Institute identifies, funds, scales and measures the apparel and footwear industry’s proven environmental impact solutions.

Located in Chittagong, Bangladesh, AUW exists to educate and empower a rising network of women leaders through the transformative power of an American-style liberal arts and sciences education.

Better Cotton™ is a nonprofit, multi-stakeholder cotton sustainability program whose mission is to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. Ralph Lauren partners with Better Cotton™ to improve cotton farming globally. Better Cotton™ is sourced via a system of mass balance and is not physically traceable to end products.Learn more about our sourcing goals here.

The Better Buying Institute was founded in 2019 to accelerate the industry-wide transformation of buyer purchasing practices so that business relationships support buyers and suppliers in achieving their financial, environmental and social sustainability goals.

Canopy works with the forest industry’s biggest customers and their suppliers to develop business solutions that protect the last frontier forests. Canopy works with brands to create cutting-edge campaigns that focus on conserving the world’s ancient and endangered forests and advancing Indigenous rights.

CARE is an international humanitarian organization fighting global poverty and world hunger by working alongside women and girls.

Community Food Bank of New Jersey fights hunger and poverty in New Jersey by assisting those in need and seeking long-term solutions. It engages, educates and empowers all sectors of society in the battle.

The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is dedicated to powering innovation for the circular economy through products and systems that have a positive impact on people and planet.

Creative Futures Collective’s mission is to unearth and empower the next generation of creative leaders from disenfranchised or system-impacted communities.

Founded 35 years ago, Delivering Good is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that unites retailers, manufacturers, foundations and individuals to support people affected by poverty and tragedy.

DigDeep is a human rights nonprofit working to ensure that every American has access to clean, running water and sanitation.

Dow's portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated, science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation was established in 1992 and is one of the leading independent AIDS organizations in the world. It harnesses local expertise to end the AIDS epidemic for people and places most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, including the LGBTQ+ community, young people (ages 10-24), people who use drugs and high-risk populations in the United States.

FABSCRAP endeavors to end commercial textile “waste” and maximize the value of unused fabric through reuse and recycling.

GiveMeTap is a social enterprise with a mission to make clean drinking water available to everyone, everywhere.

Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) is a nonprofit organization that fosters industry collaboration on sustainability in fashion to accelerate impact.

God's Love We Deliver cooks and home-delivers nutritious, medically tailored meals for people too sick to shop or cook for themselves.

Hetrick-Martin Institute provides mental health, education, career and community services along with access to basic resources such as food, toiletries and clothing to thousands of LGBTQIA+ youth every year.

IAIA’s mission is to empower creativity and leadership in Indigenous arts and cultures through higher education, lifelong learning and community engagement.

IFC — a sister organization of the World Bank and member of the World Bank Group— is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector in developing countries. They apply their financial resources, technical expertise, global experience and innovative thinking to help their partners overcome financial, operational and other challenges.

Founded in 1991 and based at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health supports and implements public health interventions designed for and by Native peoples, with the mission to promote health equity for Native Americans.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is a global leader in the fight against cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

The MSK Ralph Lauren Center (RLC) offers cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and support services. Since its founding in 2003, the RLC has served the Harlem community and surrounding neighborhoods by providing high-quality care in a warm, welcoming and culturally sensitive environment.

Morehouse College is the only historically Black college dedicated to educating men. Founded in 1867, Morehouse is a private, liberal arts institution and the nation’s top producer of Black men who go on to receive doctorates.

The New York City AIDS Memorial honors the more than 100,000 New Yorkers who have died of AIDS and acknowledges the contributions of caregivers and activists who mobilized to provide care for the ill, fight discrimination, lobby for medical research and alter the drug approval process.

Natural Fiber Welding uses revolutionary clean technology to increase the performance of plant-based textiles for the circular economy.

Project Sunshine brings joy and play to pediatric patients through volunteer-led programming in various medical settings.

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity raises money solely to support The Royal Marsden, a world-leading cancer centre. It ensures its nurses, doctors and research teams can provide the very best care and develop life-saving treatments, which are used across the UK and around the world.

SAVE carries out developmental programs towards uplift of the socio-economically poor and marginalized communities. The organization continues to work for the elimination of child labor, empowerment of women and youth, addressing gender-based violence, promotion of fair labor standards and focusing on interstate migrant worker’s rights. SAVE works for comprehensive development of both rural and urban poor communities.

The Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art preserves, exhibits and interprets Asian art in ways that deepen our understandings of Asia, the United States and the world.

In partnership with Native peoples and their allies, the National Museum of the American Indian fosters a richer shared human experience through a more informed understanding of Native peoples.

The Resilience Fund for Women in Global Value Chains is a first-of-its-kind pooled funding initiative for companies, corporate foundations and private foundations to invest in the long-term health, well-being and economic resilience of women who form the backbone of global supply chains.

Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a leading liberal arts college widely recognized as the global leader in the education of women of African descent. Located in Atlanta, the College’s picturesque campus is home to 2,100 students.

The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation was established amid unprecedented growing global awareness of racial inequality. It exists to inspire a more equal, inclusive society and to foster opportunities for marginalised young people in the UK.

Stonewall Community Foundation makes strategic investments in LGBTQIA+ communities through an international network of change-making organizations, which address the full range of issues that matter in the lives of LGBTQIA+ people.

The Soil Health Institute is a global nonprofit with a mission of safeguarding and enhancing the vitality and productivity of soils through scientific research and advancement. The Institute brings together leaders in soil health science and the industry to conduct research and empower farmers and other landowners with the knowledge to successfully adopt regenerative soil health systems that contribute economic and environmental benefits to agriculture and society.

The Sourcery connects brands, retailers and suppliers directly with the growers who are committed to advancing commercial and environmental excellence. Its Direct-to-Grower™ platform enables reliable, transparent and fair transactions between sellers and buyers that deliver integrity, prosperity and impact at scale.

UNCF is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness.

WaterAid is an international nonprofit working to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene a reality for everyone, everywhere within a generation. WaterAid works in more than 30 countries to change the lives of the poorest and most marginalized people. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 28 million people with clean water, 28 million people with decent toilets and 26 million people with good hygiene.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

WWF works in nearly 100 countries and collaborates with people around the world to develop and deliver innovative solutions that protect communities, wildlife and the places in which they live.

ZDHC collaborates with global brands, chemical suppliers, manufacturers and other organizations to protect the planet by reducing the apparel industry's chemical footprint.

Read our 2022 Global Citizenship &
Sustainability Report and
ESG Supplement