Under Armour Releases 2021 Sustainability & Impact Report, Outlines New Strategic Framework, Goals, and Targets
BALTIMORE, Sept. 27, 2022 – Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE: UA, UAA) today announced the release of its 2021 Sustainability & Impact Report, outlining a new sustainability framework, goals, and targets that will guide the company’s work to reduce the environmental footprint associated with its products and operations while accelerating its social and community impact. Aligned with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainable Accounting Standard Board (SASB) industry standards, the report outlines 23 goals and targets designed to drive company progress across three key pillars – Products, Home Field, and Team – and underscore Under Armour’s core values, including ‘Act Sustainably’ and ‘Stand for Equality.’ “As a global innovator and leader in athletic performance apparel, footwear, and accessories, we believe Under Armour has an important role to play in addressing impending challenges facing our society, industry, and planet. This belief informs our innovation methods and compels us to rethink, reinvent, and reimagine our products and how we make them in our work to support athletes and protect people and our shared planet,” said Colin Browne, Under Armour Interim President and CEO. “Mindful that lasting change will require global cooperation across communities and industries, our new report conveys our renewed commitments to continuous improvement, industrywide collaboration, and transparent communication with our stakeholders in our ongoing sustainability journey.” Under Armour’s sustainability approach, What’s Under Matters, reflects the company’s mission to make athletes better by focusing on performance-driven innovations that utilize more sustainable materials designed for recyclability and more efficient production processes in its delivery of durable, quality, high-performing products athletes know and trust. “The details underlying a company’s sustainability strategy are foundational to its longevity and ability to generate lasting impact. For this reason, Under Armour has worked diligently over the years to finalize our approach and take concerted action before releasing this report,” said Michael Levine, Under Armour VP and Chief Sustainability Officer. “We’re pleased to share our accomplishments and perspective on our future goals, and we look forward to providing updates on our progress.” A selection of report highlights within each pillar follows: Products – Through 10 goals, the company is embracing material innovations that will enable less waste and more durability, setting the stage for circular systems by 2030, including: Prioritizing recycled and renewable materials and reducing single-use plastic brand product packaging by 75% by 2025. Implementing sustainability and circular design principles in at least half of its products by 2027 and developing chemistry and processes that can enable a circular footwear program to be launched in market, at scale, by 2030. At the end of 2021, approximately 40% of fabrics used in the company’s apparel and accessories were made from materials capable of being recycled. Supporting innovation that reduces fiber shedding from textiles and targeting 75% of fabric to be made of low-shed materials, as defined by industry-leading guidance on fabric shedding that the company will work collectively to shape by 2030. Home Field – The company is working to reduce its overall environmental footprint and do its part to protect the planet through seven goals, including: Eliminating 100% of biocides and fluorine DWR in its products by 2025. Reducing absolute scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and increasing renewable energy in owned and operated facilities to 100% by 2030. Advancing low-impact manufacturing, reducing the environmental impact of its materials, and targeting net-zero emissions by 2050. Team – The company is supporting its people and communities through six goals that build upon longstanding efforts, including: Continuing to invest in teammates' health, safety, and well-being – including through initiatives to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion and develop underrepresented talent at all levels. Protecting workers' human rights and well-being in its supply chain through comprehensive programs and audits. Working to create opportunities for millions of youth to engage in sports by 2030. To download the 2021 Sustainability & Impact Report and for further information on Under Armour’s sustainability program, visit this link. About Under Armour Under Armour, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a leading inventor, marketer, and distributor of branded athletic performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. Designed to empower human performance, Under Armour's innovative products and experiences are engineered to make athletes better. For further information, please visit http://about.underarmour.com. Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, estimates, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts, such as statements regarding our goals, targets, commitments, future planned initiatives and the timing and effectiveness of any of the foregoing, including those relating to the environment, human capital matters, social and labor issues, and community impact; the development and introduction of new products, technologies and ways of working; our assumptions and the implementation of our sustainability strategies; the future impacts of our investments and initiatives; and the standards and expectations of third parties. In many cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “outlook,” “potential,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our current views about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause events or our actual activities or results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future events, results, actions, activity levels, performance or achievements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements, including our assumptions not being realized, scientific or technological developments, evolving sustainability strategies, evolving government regulations, and the risks and uncertainties set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our views and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the statement's date or to reflect unanticipated events.
Newsweek Recognizes Under Armour on Most Trustworthy Companies 2022 List
Trust builds great athletes, and trust runs deep at Under Armour. From trusting yourself to go the extra mile to trusting your teammates to step in when you need support, trust unites us and helps us Strive for More. Newsweek has recognized Under Armour in their inaugural Most Trustworthy Companies 2022 list. In partnership with Statista, a German company specializing in marketing and consumer data, Newsweek ranked Under Armour #2 out of 16 total companies for the Textile, Clothing, & Luxury Goods category. “Each and every teammate at Under Armour plays a role in bringing our purpose to life,” said Under Armour CEO Patrik Frisk. “Being recognized as one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies speaks volumes to the passion and integrity our teammates bring forward in everything they do in both their professional and personal lives.” With help from a survey of 50,000 U.S. residents, companies were evaluated across different elements related to customer, investor, and employee trust. Survey respondents answered questions about how companies engaged customers and treated their employees. Publicly traded U.S. corporations with $500 million or more in annual revenues made the list. Newsweek reviewed companies aligning to 22 industries, ranging from Banks, Energy & Utilities, Health Care & Life Sciences, and more. Insights from the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer showed how employee trust is the number one driver of trust. More specifically, many employees expect their employer to engage on societal issues and provide quality information. Under Armour’s ongoing and tangible actions to address issues like economic equality and community policing relationships are felt across the business. As Under Armour continues to put its purpose at the forefront of all activities, the business will continue to make decisions grounded in doing what is right for their consumers instead of solely responding to the market and reacting to competitors. Under Armour is committed to empowering those who strive for more, and the company’s values – Act Sustainably, Celebrate the Wins, Stand for Equality, Love Athletes and Fight on Together – serve as both a checklist for each of our programs and the qualities expected of every teammate.
Curry Court 007: Australian Basketball Court Gets a Curry Brand Makeover
Under Armour is committed to breaking down barriers all over the world that keep young people from accessing sports and sports education. That’s why we set out to “Change the Game for Good,” an ongoing initiative from Curry Brand aimed at creating opportunity, access, and equality for youth sports in neighborhoods around the world. In service of this mission, Curry Brand has proudly forged a partnership with Charity Bounce — an Australian organization that uses sports, the arts, and education to uplift disadvantaged communities, with a particular focus on Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders and culturally diverse communities, including newly arrived refugees. Using the power of sport, Charity Bounce inspires change, builds resiliency, and creates positive job opportunities for young people at risk. As part of this partnership, Curry Brand has committed to rejuvenating youth facilities in Arncliffe New South Wales, Australia that are used for Charity Bounce programs — making it the first official Curry Brand basketball court outside of the United States. “We are thrilled to partner with a purpose-led performance brand,” said Charity Bounce CEO Ian Heininger. “The new court will provide inspiration for the young athletes across our programs to look beyond themselves and use the game for good. This initiative will not only encourage them to be their best, but our ambition is also that it will create a lasting impact on their sense of worth and increase their expectation of what is possible in life. Stephen Curry has one of the most inspiring stories of resilience, and we know this partnership will be a critical piece in empowering every young person that now steps on the court.”
Transforming Students’ Lives Through Sport
The transformative nature of sport, beyond the wins and the losses, can often be overlooked and underappreciated. With that in mind, in 2016 Under Armour pulled together a team to understand the needs of Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) students in the company’s backyard, with the goal of enriching the lives of every student-athlete throughout the school district. As a result the Baltimore Student Athlete Coalition was formed by Under Armour, the Baltimore Ravens, the InSideOut Initiative and the Fund for Educational Excellence to use the power of sports to transform the lives of student athletes throughout BCPS while promoting more equitable access to enriching activities, particularly sports. This fall, the power of that partnership takes shape for the second straight school year as students, teachers and coaches begin the 2018/19 school year. “Successful schools provide opportunities for students to explore their interests, with enriching activities both in and out of the classroom. They also create positive cultures where students have the confidence to explore those opportunities,” said Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises, BCPS chief executive officer. In 2017, BCPS launched a blueprint (www.baltimorecityschools.org/blueprint) that lays out how the district will build a generation of young people with the skills, knowledge, and understanding to succeed in college, careers, and community. Addressing the holistic needs of the student, including physical activity, was a critical component. Professional development for athletic directors and coaches that began in the summer of 2017, being led by the InSideOut Initiative, is being put into action as student-athletes return to school and on fields of play this fall. The program promotes sports as a human growth experience and aims to create an environment where sports are education-based, ultimately becoming co-curricular rather than extra-curricular.
