JCPenney links with Apparel Impact Institute to design its new sustainability model which is expected to show results in 2021. Lewis Perkins, AII's President, encourages the collaboration with JCPenney and also appreciates the awareness generated about 'serious environmental impact caused by wet processing activities' in Tier 2 production by joining AII's program "Clean by Design".

He tells about JCPenney's intent of learning newly designed sustainable practices for the betterment of the existing conditions and grab the opportunity for improving production cost and promoting sustainability. 

SAC, a strategic partner of AII, leads a "Clean by Design" program for brands and retailers like JCPenney, Levi Strauss Gap and Target for helping them in supplying subsidized environmental engineering support. The main objective of this program is to improve the energy efficiency of the companies as well as promoting the utilization of renewable energy resources like biomass and solar energy. The project is financially aided by SAC and AII along with the company. JCPenney joined the "Clean by Design" program in 2015, initially, it worked with China and now it has also linked with Daysun, Masood, Nishat and Soorty to add more facilities into the program implemented in Pakistan and Vietnam. 

According to their recent blog, the mass merchant mentioned their mill and laundry facilities which are specially designed and established for "high water stress communities" and it will help to improve the condition and sustainability performance. Tier 2 work locations like these which provide such facilities are the major 'hot spots' and are a matter of concern for the AII program "Clean by Design". JCPenney confirms that their participation in the program will continue annually. Also, Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management now own the retail operations of JCPenney.