US, Indian diplomats visit Brandix Green Plant
Months after it received the world's highest rating for eco friendly
manufacture, the Brandix Green factory at Seeduwa continues to attract
high profile local and international interest.
The latest visitors to the LEED (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design) Platinum rated Brandix Casualwear factory were the
diplomatic envoys of the USA and India, the former representing a major
market for Sri Lankan apparel, and the latter a major producer in the
region.
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At the Brandix Eco Centre (From left)
the US Embassy’s Vice Consul Ms. Emily J. Hicks and Chief of
Economic and Commercial Affairs Ms. Kami Witmer, Brandix
Director AJ Johnpillai, US Ambassador Robert Blake, Mrs.
Sofia Blake, Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad, Brandix
CEO Ashroff Omar, Seema Omar and Hasib Omar. |
US Ambassador Robert Blake Jr. and Mrs. Sofia Blake were accompanied
by Ms. Emily J. Hicks - Vice Consul and Ms. Kami Witmer - Chief of
Economic and Commercial Affairs at the US Embassy in Colombo on this
visit. In his comments in the Green Plant's visitors' book, the US
Ambassador wrote "Congratulations on this impressive green facility that
I hope will serve as a model for other apparel factories".
Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad who joined the US diplomats on
the visit wrote: "An eye opening visit to see how much has been achieved
and that "green" is possible. Very impressive - Great dedication -
Congratulations."
Brandix Director AJ Johnpillai who, along with Brandix CEO Ashroff
Omar, conducted the diplomats on a tour of the 130,000 square-foot
facility commented: "Brandix was most pleased to host the American and
Indian envoys on a visit to the Green Plant. Such visits by eminent and
influential personalities serve the very important purpose of creating
better awareness overseas of our commitment to environment-friendly
manufacture and are beneficial to the apparel industry as a whole."
The Brandix Green Factory at Seeduwa is the first apparel
manufacturing facility in the world to be rated Platinum under the LEED
Green Building Rating System of the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
The factory which is the Group's lead manufacturing plant for Marks &
Spencer, achieved a score of 76 (12 points higher than the 64 required
for Platinum status) on the 85-point LEED certification system, setting
a global benchmark for low energy consumption, water conservation, solid
waste management and low carbon emissions.
The factory has achieved a reduction of carbon emissions by 80 per
cent, an energy saving of 46 per cent, a reduction of water consumption
of 70 per cent and zero solid waste to landfill, eco-friendly indicators
as yet unmatched by any re-designed Green Plant anywhere in the world.
The pioneer of the concept of `total solutions' in Sri Lanka's
apparel sector Brandix specialises in casual bottoms, intimate and
active wear, textiles, knitted fabrics, sewing and embroidery thread,
accessories and hangers, and also offers wet processing and finishing
and fabric printing. Brandix is a preferred solutions provider to some
of the world's leading apparel brands, including Gap, Marks & Spencer,
Victoria's Secret, NEXT, Lands End, Abercrombie & Fitch and Tommy
Hilfiger.
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