Brandix intensifies greener apparel

By Gamini Warushamana

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Thousands of young girls attired in green uniforms are working like bees. They sew clothes for people in far off Europe that is marketed by reputed British retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S).

The refurbished factory has changed the traditional look of garment factories. Instead of the long closed factory illuminated with a myriad fluorescent bulbs, even during daylight, the new factory has hundreds of long glass windows that filter the heat component of sunlight, walls colour washed in light colours and a courtyard with palm trees.

By this 75 per cent of the workers get daylight and 95 per cent of the workers can view the outside of the factory, which makes the working environment more conducive for them.

This is the first green apparel factory of Brandix, the leader in apparel exports in Sri Lanka.

Brandix has refurbished its 30-year-old production facility built at a cost of $ 2.5 million at Seeduwa and pledged to spend US$ 25 million over the next four years to make its products greener. The factory was opened at Seeduwa on April 25.

Sri Lankan apparels branded as “Apparel without guilt” that maintain ethical production practices would improve its brand value with this green initiative.

The improved working condition of the workers would make the apparel products more ethical.

After the multi fibre agreement ended in 2005, the apparel industry in Sri Lanka faced serious challenges. The industry flourished under protected market conditions in the US and EU faced fierce competition from countries such as China and India.

The industry opted for strategies to face the new market conditions and decided to specialise in niche markets. Brandix was in the forefront in this effort and from the beginning these new strategies flourished and the industry recovered quickly.

Thereafter JAAF, the umbrella organisation of the industry lobby, sensing the trends in the major markets decided to brand the country’s apparel products under “Apparel without guilt”. Today they have again become the first who are providing apparel that are produced in an eco friendly manner.

The 130,000 sq ft Brandix casual wear factory, where 1,600 are employed is the group’s lead manufacturing plant for the M&S. From the factory gate everything has been given a facelift.

The roads have been reconstructed using cement bricks, which reflect 60 per cent of the heat. Beneath the green of the factory garden, huge tanks have been constructed to harvest rainwater, which is the main source of water for the factory.

The new initiative is not merely to respond to the market demand. It is to respond to the warning of intensifying environmental hazards as a result of global warming.

The world’s demand is to reduce green house gases but since industries chasing profits are reluctant to change, today consumers are demanding greener products.

M&S has responded early to this new market trend and started its Plan A. They call it Plan A because they feel that it’s the only way to do business.

Plan A is M&S’s five-year, 100-point ‘eco’ plan to tackle this global issue with its customers and suppliers. The objectives are to combat climate change, reduce waste, safeguard natural resources, trade ethically and build a healthier nation.

The five pillars of the Plan A represent climate change, waste, sustainable raw materials, health and to be a fair Partner.

Each pillar has its own goal and M&S targets to become carbon neutral, send no waste to landfill, extend sustainable sourcing, help improve the lives of people in its supply chain and help customers and employees live a healthier lifestyle by 2012.

The new factory has already paid dividends for Brandix.

A month after completing the green conversion the factory recorded 45 per cent energy saving and the second month it was 51 per cent. It has also drastically cut the water bill of the factory.