Athleta Earns B Corp Certification

Joins growing community of for-profit companies committed to using business as a "force for good"

Celebrating its 20^th anniversary, Athleta announced today it has earned B Corp Certification from the nonprofit B Lab, becoming one of the largest apparel companies in the world to certify as B Corp. B Corp Certification requires a holistic review of a business' social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency, and is based on a vision of creating a community of for-profit companies committed to redefining success in business.

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Athleta Earns B Corp Certification (Photo: Business Wire)

"We believe with Athleta's growth comes even greater responsibility to lead as a force for good," said Athleta CEO and President Nancy Green. "Athleta has been at the forefront of empowering and celebrating women for two decades; this B Corp Certification accelerates our course forward as a purpose-driven brand, honoring our mission to ignite a community of healthy, confident, active women and girls; and cementing our commitment to environmental sustainability."

Athleta's Power of She campaign and brand experience celebrate inclusivity and the power of women and girls uplifting one another. Through the Gap Inc. P.A.C.E. program and Fair Trade U.S.A., the brand supports programs directly impacting the lives of the majority-female workers creating its apparel. Additionally, 40% of Athleta apparel is made of recycled and sustainable materials, tracking to its goal of 80% by 2020. Athleta also offers thousands of free fitness and wellness events each year and in 2017 supported nearly 10,000 hours of employee volunteering in the community. Click here to learn more about Athleta's values.

"We are thrilled to welcome Athleta into the global family of Certified B Corporations not just for its commitments to positive impact at the company, but also its dedication to empowering people around the world to use business as a force for good. They're paving the way for the rest of the apparel industry to follow," said Andy Fyfe, Senior Growth at B Lab.

As part of its B Corp Certification, Athleta's corporate charter has been amended to update its purpose to include ‘creating positive social and environmental impact, taken as a whole, through the products we offer, the treatment of our employees, customers, suppliers, and partners, the marketing of our products and brand, and our engagement with the broader community.'

"By Athleta becoming a benefit corporation, it has created a legal commitment to people and the planet. There is a growing impatience with old ways of doing business, and by joining the thousands of benefit corporations formed to date, Athleta is changing the game," added Fyfe.

About Athleta

Athleta creates versatile premium performance apparel designed by women athletes to inspire a community of active, confident women and girls to reach their limitless potential. Founded in 1998, Athleta integrates performance and technical features across its collection to carry a woman through her life in motion – from yoga and training to commute and travel. In 2016 the company launched Athleta Girl mirroring its signature performance in styles for the next generation. Based in San Francisco, CA and a Gap Inc. brand GPS, Athleta apparel is available at its 140+ retail stores across the country, through its catalog, and at www.athleta.com.

About B Lab

B Lab is a nonprofit organization that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good. Its vision is that one day all companies compete not only to be the best in the world, but the Best for the World® and as a result society will enjoy a more shared and durable prosperity. B Lab drives this systemic change by:

1. Building a global community of Certified B Corporations who meet the highest standards of verified, overall social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability;
2. Promoting Mission Alignment using innovative corporate structures like the benefit corporation to align the interests of business with those of society and to help high impact businesses be built to last;
3. Helping tens of thousands of businesses, investors, and institutions Measure What Matters, by using the B Impact Assessment and B Analytics to manage their impact -- and the impact of the businesses with whom they work -- with as much rigor as their profits;
4. Inspiring millions to join the movement through compelling story-telling through the digital platform B the Change. Bthechange.com

For more information, visit www.bcorporation.net, www.bimpactassessment.net, www.b-analytics.net and www.benefitcorp.net.

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