M & S to support Lanka at GSP Plus concession review

Sri Lanka will not have problems with the extension of the GSP Plus scheme since the apparel industry follows ethical standards and exports quality products. Marks and Spencer (M & S) will do its best to support Sri Lanka at the review of the GSP Plus concession this year, Chief Executive, Marks and Spencer, Sir Stuart Rose said.

He was addressing a ceremony to launch MAS Intimates Thurulie - the first eco factory for lingerie in Tulhiriya recently.

He said MAS Intimates is the best factory equipped to manufacture quality lingerie for high end UK customers. The MAS factory is a new development in clothing production and it will trail a completely new approach to manufacturing and set standards for others to follow.

MAS Intimates which will manufacture lingerie for the UK high street retailer, Marks and Spencer is designed to reduce carbon emissions with low consumption of electricity and water.

The factory has the biggest installation of solar panels to date in Sri Lanka to provide around 10 per cent of the electricity required for the plant.The rest of the electricity will be mini-hydro, sourced through a 'green' power agreement that MAS pioneered last month.

"The manufacturing plant is not only designed to be carbon neutral but also ensures the welfare of workers maintaining ethical standards for the clothing industry", sir. Rose said.

M & S has 16 million customers who are today more concerned about the products they source. They are keen to see that what they source are produced under ethical standards.

He said climate change has become the main topic drawing the attention of the world towards quick action to be taken to mitigate the impact of global warming. Earth warming has posed a serious threat on the planet to the extent that no industry could continue to pollute the environment.

The use of daylight for the premises, energy efficient lighting and lead based task lights to reduce energy consumption, lower cooling systems to replace air-conditioning, courtyards with greenbelts, the use of eco-bricks for construction, rain-water harvesting and waste water management are intended to save over 40 per cent on electricity and reduce 50 per cent consumption of water.

CEO MAS Holdings Mahesh Amalean said the lingerie manufacturing plant shows the commitment of MAS to environment friendly apparel manufacture.The MAS family has 30 plants in India, China, Mexico and UK employing over 42,000 people producing quality clothing for M & S for 15 years.

MAS Intimates Group Director, Dian Gomes said the Thurulie plant is the start of the eco-journey MAS has begun. The partnership with M&S will help MAS to address climate issues and develop new designs for the apparel industry.

MAS Intimates is the world's first lean and green lingerie manufacturing plant designed for lean manufacturing standards.The factory will initially employ around 550 people and will increase it to around 1,300 by 2010.

LF