EcoSmart^® is the Hanesbrands trademark for fibers made with recycled content – both polyester and cotton. EcoSmart^® polyester fiber is produced with recycled plastic bottles, thereby reducing the amount of materials sent to landfills and lessening the need to produce petroleum-based virgin plastic. We are vigilant to ensure the integrity of the EcoSmart^® fibers, and we require a letter of authenticity from our suppliers guaranteeing that EcoSmart^® polyester is made from 100 percent recycled material – most often bottles used by consumers that are cleaned and melted for reuse.

EcoSmart^® polyester can be used in any polyester or polyester-blend product, and we are seeking to incorporate it into more of our garments. In 2010, we expect to produce more than 38 million pounds of fleece that contains 4.4 percent EcoSmart^® recycled polyester, totaling more than 1.6 million pounds of recycled fiber. Each pound of this fiber is made from the equivalent of 16 plastic bottles. We aim to reuse more than 25 million plastic bottle equivalents in 2010 for these products alone.