November 19, 2024 | 

Delivering Good recently had the opportunity to speak with Teddy Mendoza, Director of Global Corporate Safety & Sustainability for Hanesbrands, Inc. about the company’s incredible partnership with our mission, their commitment to sustainability, and his personal passion for giving back. 

 What inspired you to get involved with Delivering Good, and what about the mission resonates with you most?

Growing up in Honduras, and living for many years in El Salvador I saw firsthand the devastation that natural disasters bring to communities, and I know how critical it is to have immediate, compassionate support. Delivering Good’s mission resonates with me because it’s not just about resources, but also about the dignity and connection that comes from helping one another in times of crisis. Working with them allows us to provide essential items and share a message of comfort and hope with those who need it most. HBI’s purpose is “We are creating a more comfortable world for every body.” Delivering Good has been a good partner for us in bringing this purpose into practice, especially for communities in times of need.

HanesBrands has a strong focus on sustainability. Can you tell us about some of the sustainability efforts you’re involved with at the company?

At HanesBrands, sustainability is at the heart of what we do. We're focused on creating a more comfortable world for every body while taking steps to reduce our environmental impact. HanesBrands prioritizes responsible sourcing, reducing waste and lowering our carbon footprint across operations, in line with the Science Based Targets Initiative. Sustainability isn’t new for us at HanesBrands, and we are proud to engage in business practices that prioritize the people and our planet.

Why do you think partnering with Delivering Good is a meaningful way for HanesBrands to make an impact? How do you see this partnership evolving?

Together with Delivering Good, we provide critical resources and bring comfort during times when people need it most. I envision this partnership giving us the ability to reach even more communities, with HanesBrands continuing to offer essential items and support through both local and global crises.

Can you share a bit about your personal journey—how did you first get interested in sustainability, and what keeps you passionate about it?

I began my journey at Hanes more than 20 years ago. I got involved in our company’s environmental, community impact, and social compliance program early in my career. The fact that we already had a robust program back then, really shows that sustainability has been important for Hanes for decades.  My interest in this space began early, shaped by my experiences growing up in Honduras and then living in El Salvador for many years, where I witnessed the resilience and solidarity of communities after natural disasters. I was involved in seeing people come together to help one another.

Over the years I have seen entire communities thriving in part thanks to our programs. All of that taught me the importance of building sustainable systems to support communities in need. I’m passionate about integrating our corporate relief efforts into our sustainability ambitions. A good example of this is our goal to positively impact the lives of 10 million people by 2030. This is highly rewarding not only from a business standpoint but also at a personal level. It brings back the memories of all the amazing community impact work I’ve seen our company do over the years and sets an even higher ambition for the future.