The Brandix Group has achieved another global first for Sri Lanka by becoming the first apparel manufacturer in the world to receive ISO 50001, less than a month after the stringent Energy Management Systems standard was introduced by the International Standards Organisation, the company said this week.
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| Picture shows a section of the ISO 50001 certified Brandix Green factory in Seeduwa. |
On Thursday 14th July, auditors from Det Norske Veritas (DNV) - Netherlands confirmed that the Brandix Eco Centre at Seeduwa, a 130,000 square foot Green factory producing apparel for Marks & Spencer (M&S) was compliant with ISO 50001:2011, a standard that became official worldwide on 17th June 2011.
With this certification, Brandix also became only the third manufacturing entity worldwide across all sectors of industry to be ISO 50001 certified, and the only apparel producer in this ultra exclusive group, the company said in a statement.
Due to the fact the Brandix factory had already achieved and maintained compliance well before the standard was released, it was able to obtain this certification in a short time period, whereas normal certification could take up to three months, officials were quoted as saying.
This is the second time that the Brandix Group and its Green factory have achieved global firsts for Sri Lanka’s apparel industry. In April 2008 the Brandix Eco Centre became the first apparel factory in the world to receive a Platinum rating from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System of the US Green Building Council (USGBC). It has also been commended as a global model for sustainable production by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and in Britain’s House of Lords.
“Periodic achievements of compliance with the world’s most stringent environmental standards are important milestones in our road map to reaching the highest possible levels of sustainable manufacture,” Brandix Director AJ Johnpillai said. “They are also critical to positioning the capability and commitment of Sri Lanka’s apparel industry to eco-friendly operations, and represent a significant competitive advantage.”
The Brandix Green factory currently consumes an average 6,800 kWh of energy daily. This represents a saving of 46 % after it was redesigned as an eco-friendly manufacturing facility. The factory has also achieved a reduction of carbon emissions by 64 %, a reduction of water consumption of 63 % and zero solid waste to landfill. |
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