Brandix CEO Ashroff Omar presents President Mahinda Rajapaksa with a plaque to mark this accomplishment.

Sri Lanka’s Brandix has achieved a world first across all sectors, with its Green Factory in Seeduwa becoming the first apparel manufacturing facility in the world to be rated Platinum under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System of the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

The 130,000 square-foot Brandix Eco Centre, Brandix Casualwear’s lead manufacturing plant for global giant Marks & Spencer, achieved a score of 76 on the 85-point LEED certification system, setting a global benchmark for low energy consumption, water conservation, solid waste management and low carbon emissions. It is the only converted Green Factory in the world to receive the Platinum rating, the highest standard in eco-friendly manufacture, the company said in a press release.

Formally inaugurated in April this year by Marks & Spencer CEO Sir Stuart Rose, the plant converted into an Eco Centre at a cost of US $ 3 million has achieved a reduction of carbon emissions by 80%, an energy saving of 46%, a reduction of water consumption of 58% and zero solid waste to landfill, eco-friendly indicators as yet unmatched by any re-designed Green Plant anywhere in the world.“This is possibly one of the most satisfying milestones achieved by Brandix in its short but meteoric history,” noted A.J. Johnpillai, Director Brandix. “The fact that it is a global first for us, our country and the apparel industry worldwide, makes it all the more significant, and is a huge shot in the arm for our apparel sector in these challenging times.”