We recognise that sustainability is a journey that requires commitment, innovation and ongoing investment. Our 2030 goals are a map to a better tomorrow. Together with our global HanesBrands family, we’re working to achieve our set of long term goals.
Globally, we’re aiming to positively impact the lives of at least 500,000 people per year. We will do so by
Supporting our global employee base, and those of our suppliers, through a broad range of programs including education, health and wellness, and diversity and inclusion
Maintaining robust ethical sourcing practices and remaining committed to human rights and responsible sourcing
Supporting Australians at risk of, and experiencing, homelessness by donating sleep kits through our SleepSafe initiative
Our Planet
As part of HanesBrands, we have set reduction targets for our emissions through the Science-Based Targets Initiative. Globally, we are aiming at:
Reducing 50% of our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030
Reducing 30% of our Scope 3 emissions by 2030
Our global group is also aiming at:
Using 100% renewable electricity where reasonably possible in our owned operations through direct investment and renewable energy credits by 2030.
Reducing our water use by 25% in our owned operations by 2030.
Working with key facilities to complete Higg FEM and include scores in our facility evaluations (Tier 1 and 2).
All reduction goals are off a 2019 baseline.
Our Product
Materials
We aim to use 100% preferred cotton in our products by 2030. We define preferred cotton U.S. grown, Australian grown, organic, recycled or sourced through reputable sustainable cotton certification programs.
We’re working towards embedding circularity across our business model, including circular design principles, minimising waste across the value chain, and engaging in industry partnerships.
Packaging
We aim to eliminate single-use soft plastics in our product packaging, where possible, and are working towards reducing specific problematic packaging components by 2030.
Our Vision
Our sustainability journey began over 50 years ago when Sheridan was founded by passionate environmentalist, Claudio Alcorso.
Our enduring reputation for quality was founded on his belief that products must be designed to last, and last beautifully. We have a clear purpose. We are working to reduce our impact. We are designing a better tomorrow.
Design & Materials
We’re becoming more conscious about the fibres we choose; conscious of their feel and wear over time, and thoughtful of the impact they’ll have on the environment - pre, post and during the manufacturing process.
TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres are made from wood, a natural and renewable raw material carefully sourced from responsibly managed forests. The wood taken from nature is purposefully balanced with forest growth rates, to ensure the continued availability of this valuable resource.
We first introduced TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres into our range in 2016. Today, the fibre is featured in a selection of our products across bed linen, bed foundations, bath towels and loungewear.
Our Australian Wool Washable Collection is crafted with 100% Australian Wool fill, supporting the efforts of our local wool farming communities. Wool is a natural, renewable fibre.
We aim to increase the use of recycled materials in our collections, and have manufactured products using recycled polyester, which can be found in our Decorate and Bed Foundations categories.
We also manufacture products using leftover cotton yarn, like our Cancun bathroom towels, beach towels and ponchos. Utilising leftover yarns gives these products their iconic multicoloured stripe.
We are transitioning to packaging that is reusable or recyclable. This includes self-fabric bags that can be reused for storage or travel. When you have finished using them, these bags can also be returned to any Sheridan store as part of our textile recycling program.
We are well on the journey of eliminating single-use plastic packaging and replacing it with reusable or recyclable alternatives. Since 2019, we have removed 76% of PVC packaging from our product. By focusing on optimising our packaging and reducing unnecessary components, we have also been able to remove 54% of cardboard product packaging from the business since 2019.
All of our product packaging now bears the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL). These labels educate consumers on how the packaging can be recycled.
We’re committed to eliminating single-use soft plastics in our product packaging, where possible, and are working towards reducing specific problematic packaging components by 2030.
Following the collapse of RECcycle, unfortunately there is no collection of soft plastics available for customers at the present time. Industry is working hard to identify pathways to create new schemes. In the meantime, customers are advised to dispose of their soft plastics in the landfill bin. You can also check your local council recycling options here: https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/councils
Sheridan is an active member of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation and with their help, we’re taking conscious steps towards reducing and improving our packaging footprint.
One of the things we’re most proud of is the connection that our brand has built to a community made up of our people, suppliers and consumers. This connection has been built up over 50-plus years of delivering the very best quality into people’s homes and lives.
As a company and a community, what ties us together is our collective hope for a better future for everyone.
In August 2019, we launched a national partnership with StreetSmart Australia, an organisation dedicated to raising vital funds and awareness for people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness.
The partnership, in the name of SleepSafe, sees every Sheridan store across the country involved in fundraising. Every $15 raised helps to provide a sleep kit, containing a towel, flat and fitted sheet and pillowcase, to someone in need. In the six years since launching the program, SleepSafe has raised over $2.7M and distributed more than 180,000 sleep kits.
In 2019, we implemented a recycling program into all Sheridan Boutique and Outlet stores in Australia. Customers can bring their pre-loved bed linen and towels (of any brand) into a collection point in-store. In 2024, we relaunched the program with our new partner, BlockTexx®
Our program ensures these items are collected and sent to our partners at BlockTexx®. BlockTexx’s proprietary S.O.F.T.™ (Separation of Fibre Technology) process is a real solution for hard to recycle textile and clothing blends at their end of life.
GIVIT are a national not-for-profit that partners directly with councils, recovery outreach teams, charities and community groups to connect those in need with those who can help, ensuring that Australians experiencing hardship receive the essential goods and services they need, when they need it most.
Since our partnership began in 2018, Sheridan together with our Hanes Australasia family has collectively donated over 2,500,000 items to people in need.
We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and we are building a culture of transparency across our businesses.
We have a strong commitment to treating our employees fairly and with dignity and respect, and we hold every one of our suppliers accountable to this same standard.
We along with our HanesBrands family were recognised in the top 20% of companies assessed in Baptist World Aid's 2024 Ethical Fashion Report. The report grades companies based on the strength of their systems to mitigate against the risks of forced labor, child labor and exploitation in their supply chains.
Each of our facilities must undergo a social compliance assessment before production begins, and then with ongoing annual assessments. To ensure accuracy and integrity, the initial and annual assessments are conducted by third-party auditors who measure the facilities’ performance using a detailed, scored set of criteria.
Our compliance program goal is to work with facilities to drive continuous improvement, but we will stop doing business with a factory if they fail to correct deficiencies in a timely manner or if “zero-tolerance” issues are discovered such as child labour, forced labour, sexual or physical harassment or abuse, or attempted bribery of an auditor.
We are committed to ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare are adhered to in our supply chain. When animal products are used, we expect our suppliers to treat animals in a humane manner, which includes provision of appropriate comfort, shelter and freedom from distress or hunger. When sourcing feather and down, our partners must take reasonable steps to ensure the down and feathers used are a by-product of the food chain. Feather or down by live plucking is not permitted.