Brandix Casualwear Giritale reaches ‘Green’ milestone
Brandix Casualwear Ltd, Giritalé, has been accorded an ‘Eco Factory
Attribute’ by Marks & Spencer (M&S), in recognition of its achievements
in environmental sustainability and preservation.
Strategically making use of its natural surroundings, Brandix’s
Giritalé plant secured the M&S Eco Factory Attribute awarded under the
latter’s ‘Plan A’ initiative, by significantly reducing its emissions
and consumption of resources. Overall energy consumption was cut by 30
percent. Fuel consumption too has been reduced by 20 per cent through
redesigned boiler and steam distributors which run entirely on biomass.
As a result, the overall carbon footprint of the factory has shrunk by
15 percent. Water consumption has declined by 25 percent, and the plant
now recycles 100 per cent of its solid waste.
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Brandix
Casualwear at Giritale |
“Sustainability through minimal use of natural resources,
eco-friendly waste management and ecological preservation are
inextricably woven into the very fabric of our business, and we are
proud of the Giritalé plant’s achievement,” said Dhananjaya Rajapaksha,
CEO of Brandix Casualwear. “It is noteworthy that the factory has
successfully adopted international best practices in environmental
preservation, while ensuring favourable working conditions for all
associates.”
Brandix Casualwear Giritalé is the third Brandix Group factory in Sri
Lanka and the fifth Group factory overall, to be conferred the M&S Eco
Factory Attribute. Two other Brandix factories at Ja-Ela and Koggala
have received the M&S ‘Ethical Factory Attribute.’
Situated opposite the scenic Giritalé Tank in the Polonnaruwa
District, the factory experiences a natural draft all year round, which
has been optimally channelled through the factory via an improved
mechanical ventilation system, thereby replacing conventional air
conditioning systems. The Margosa (Kohomba) trees surrounding the
facility act as a natural cooling filter for the incoming draft.
Meanwhile, special prismatic skylights have been fitted to the roof
to allow only the passage of solar light without the accompanying heat.
Sophisticated new Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are used as task lights
to illuminate the sewing machines at needlepoint, supplementing the
natural light provided by the skylights. T5 lighting has been installed
for use only on cloudy or rainy days. Energy requirements in the kitchen
are supplied through solar heaters.
Among the procedures adopted to conserve water are the use of push
button taps, low-flow water fixtures and the introduction of a sewerage
treatment plant and a tertiary filtration system which allows the water
to be recycled and re-used for toilet flushing and gardening. As the
factory is located opposite the Giritalé tank, a rainwater harvesting
system is not necessary since water from the tank can be used as and
when required, Rajapaksha explained. In addition, solid waste management
is facilitated by colour-coded bins and other infrastructure which make
possible the segregation and easy collection of waste. As a result, the
facility has achieved its target of ‘Zero Waste to Landfill.’
An online monitoring system has been installed to screen the
facility’s level of energy consumption. In keeping with the factory’s
eco-friendly ethos, all associates are encouraged to use push bicycles
as a mode of transport to and from work, under an initiative partly
funded by Brandix. Currently, the growing fleet comprises of 50
bicycles, and parking facilities are provided in the form of bike sheds.
Primarily a manufacturer of apparel for the Marks & Spencer label, the
Brandix Giritalé factory provides employment to over 600 associates.
Earlier this year, a Brandix Casualwear factory in Bangladesh also
received an ‘Eco Factory Attribute’ from Marks & Spencer, and was the
first apparel factory in that country to achieve this status.
Marks & Spencer’s ‘Plan A’ initiative was launched in January 2007 to
combat climate change, reduce waste, use sustainable raw materials,
trade ethically, and help customers to lead healthier lifestyles.
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