Friday, October 10, 2008
The Brandix Group’s world-first Platinum rated Green Factory provided a learning experience to apparel sector manufacturers in the region recently when it was chosen by global giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) for a factory visit by several senior apparel sector executives from
The visitors led by Marks & Spencer’s ‘Plan A’ Director Richard Gillies along with his Associates Paschal Little and Ian Morris as well as Ravi Seshadri the Regional Head of Technology for M&S South Asia undertook a two hour tour of the Brandix Eco Centre at Seeduwa for a first-hand look at how the plant has been redesigned to achieve global benchmark ratings in energy and water conservation, solid waste management and low carbon emissions.
Represented at the visit were well known apparel sector companies such as Orient Craft, Arvind Mills Limited, Farida Shoes, Crystal Martin, Hela Clothing, CREW BOS, Thomas Kershaw, MMS
“Brandix takes great pride in its credo of being an inspired solutions provider for branded clothing, and we were very pleased to host several of our peers from the region,” Brandix Director AJ Johnpillai said. “We hope our efforts will be an inspiration to others to seek the highest achievable levels of environment-friendly manufacture.”
The Brandix Green Factory in Seeduwa is the first and only 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 complex is Brandix Casualwear’s lead manufacturing plant for Marks & Spencer, and supports M&S’ ‘Plan A’ a five-year, 100-point 'eco' plan to encourage suppliers around the world to make their supply chains carbon neutral through Green manufacturing processes.
Formally inaugurated on April 25 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 per cent, an energy saving of 46 per cent, a reduction of water consumption of 58 per cent and zero solid waste to landfill, eco-friendly indicators as yet unmatched by any re-designed Green Plant anywhere in the world.
Brandix pioneered the concept of total solutions in the Sri Lankan apparel industry and has been recognized as
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Brandix supports National Safety & Health Week as Principal Sponsor
1 comments Posted by Anoop at 8:23 PM
The country’s top apparel exporter Brandix, a Group that provides direct employment to more than 25,000 people, has lent its might to make occupational health and safety the focus of attention in Sri Lanka this week, to support the National Safety and Health Week campaign of the Ministry of Labour Relations & Manpower.
As Principal Sponsor of this annual event targeting employers and employees alike, Brandix is supporting a series of events organised to create greater awareness on occupational safety and health in work places across the island, and has encouraged its own associates to participate in these activities, a spokesman for the Group said.
Themed ‘Health & Safety for Happiness of Life,’ the highlights of the campaign are an island-wide poster competition, street dramas that will be enacted at the export processing zones in Biyagama, Katunayake and Avissawella, a Safety Walk at Horana and a National Seminar at the BMICH on Thursday, 9th October.
“Brandix has been at the forefront of efforts to improve safety and health in workplaces,” the Group’s Compliance Manager Dhammika Abeygoonawardhane said. “Our commitment to occupational safety and health has been recognised by many awards at national level, and we are happy to extend this commitment beyond the Group by supporting national campaigns of this nature.”
“It is our hope that wider participation in these events will in time lead to better conditions, processes and practices. There is no greater asset to a business than a happy employee, and workplace safety and health are key contributing elements to a contented work force,” Mr. Abeygoonawardhane added.
Brandix pioneered the concept of total solutions in the Sri Lankan apparel industry and has been recognized as Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporter by the Export Development Board for the past two years. Comprising of 25 fully-integrated manufacturing facilities backed by strategically located international sourcing offices, the Brandix Group specializes in casual bottoms, intimate and active wear, textiles, knitted fabrics, sewing and embroidery thread, accessories and hangers, and offers wet processing and finishing and fabric printing. Brandix is a preferred solutions provider to some of the world’s best brands, including Gap, Marks & Spencer, Victoria’s Secret, NEXT, Lands End, Ann Taylor, Abercrombie & Fitch and Tommy Hilfiger.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
A fascination for scaling heights at speed has landed Nilantha De Soyza a 10th abseiling record in Sri Lanka, but the Brandix daredevil is not about to hang up his trusty ropes.
Nilantha’s latest feat of abseiling down the ‘mini world’s end’ at the Knuckles Mountain range in complete darkness on the 8th of August has won the young man the admiration of his peers as well as his superiors at the country’s largest apparel exporting group.
Congratulating Nilantha on becoming the first man to abseil the 800 foot precipice at night, Brandix Activewear CEO Ms Ranga Ranmadugala said: “We are proud of Nilantha’s courage and conviction in his chosen sport. It is risky, but he takes calculated risks with careful preparation and assessment, much in the same way we progress in our business. Nilantha, who is a part of our production team at Koggala, shows great diligence in accomplishing his tasks in a structured way.”
Having chosen to make his attempt at eight minutes and eight seconds after 8 pm on the 8th of August, Nilantha completed the abseil in just 45 seconds, setting a daunting challenge for any fellow climber who may follow him. This was his second abseiling record in 2008, having climbed down the Diyaluma Falls at Koslanda in just one minute and 25 seconds on Independence Day in February this year, beating his own previous record of 6 minutes and 12 seconds set in May 2004 by a huge margin.
“The support and sponsorship of Brandix has been an invaluable source of inspiration to me,” the young adventure sports enthusiast said. “I like to believe that in my own way, I represent the spirit of Brandix, of seeking and overcoming challenges with determination and courage.” He said there are many other new abseiling challenges that are now beckoning him.
Among the other abseiling records held by Nilantha De Soyza are World’s End – Nuwara Eliya (1 hour), Pahiyan Gala – Matugama (18 minutes, 23 seconds), Mini World’s End – Badulla (15 minutes, 45 seconds), Bambarakanda – Badulla (5 minutes, 20 seconds) and Knuckles in day time (40 seconds).
A consistent supporter of sporting teams and individuals who represent Sri Lanka, Brandix has sponsored Sri Lanka’s champion weight lifter Chinthana Vidanage, the Sri Lanka Schools Swimming Team that competed at the recent Asian Schools Swimming Championship in Malaysia, the Sri Lanka Men’s and Women’s Golf teams, and an eight-member contingent of exceptional undergraduate athletes from the University of Kelaniya that participated at the World University Games (Universiade) in 2007. Sri Lanka’s colourful fast bowling sensation Lasith Malinga is also employed by Brandix.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Champion weight lifter Chinthana Vidanage, one of just eight prospects from
Less than two weeks before he leaves for the greatest challenge in his athletic career, Vidanage was presented with sports gear and an assurance that his 25,000 colleagues at Brandix would also be bracing their muscles with him when he embarks on his medal quest in China on August 12th.
“Chinthana symbolises the aspirations and the determination to excel that have been instilled in employees of Brandix at all levels,” said Pravin Kalpage, CEO of Brandix Casualwear, who conveyed the Group’s best wishes at the presentation of the sponsorship. “All over
The holder of eight
A consistent supporter of sporting teams and individuals who represent
Saturday, June 28, 2008
The Green Plant of Brandix, Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporter, recently hosted two reigning beauty queens on a familiarization visit.
Commenting on what she saw, Ms Sneekes said: “Concern for the environment is very high in Europe, and I am most impressed by the efforts made by Brandix in Sri Lanka to switch to Green Manufacturing. The Brandix Green Plant at Seeduwa was an eye-opener for me. Besides being one of the most eco-friendly apparel factories in the world, it also provides a very comfortable working environment.”
“It is very pleasing to see that garments reaching stores in Europe come from such well-designed and environment-friendly manufacturing locations. Congratulations, Brandix.”
Ms Colombage added: “There can be no better example of Sri Lanka’s commitment to environment-friendly manufacturing than the Brandix Green Plant at Seeduwa. The commitment and effort that has gone into creating a showpiece of clean manufacturing is truly commendable. Sri Lanka can be proud of facilities such as this, which demonstrate that we can be world leaders in eco-friendly apparel manufacture.”
The 130,000 square-foot Brandix Casualwear factory at Seeduwa is the Group’s lead manufacturing plant for top international retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S), and surpasses internationally-stipulated Green factory standards for energy consumption, water conservation, solid waste management and carbon emissions. The pioneer of the concept of inspired solutions for branded clothing, Brandix is a preferred solutions provider to some of the world’s best brands, including Gap, Marks & Spencer, Victoria’s Secret, NEXT, Lands End, Ann Taylor, Abercrombie & Fitch and Tommy Hilfiger. The Group specializes 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.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Unique CSR collaboration to help 2000 families at risk of kidney & other water-borne diseases
Colombo, Tuesday, June 10, 2008: At least 2000 families exposed to the threat of chronic kidney and water-borne diseases in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province are to receive special water filters in a new community outreach project funded jointly by Brandix Lanka Limited and Deutsche Bank AG.
To be implemented by the Community Water Supply & Sanitation Project (CWSSP) of the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development, the project will involve the distribution of filters that remove pathogens and harmful minerals such as fluoride from the drinking water in selected areas, the training of recipients in the correct use of the filters and arrangements for their maintenance.
Funding for the procurement of the filters will be shared by Deutsche Bank with a contribution of Rs 2 million, and Brandix with a contribution of Rs 1.8 million. The project will be executed by a network of village-level Community Based Organisations (CBOs) built up by the CWSSP over the past 15 years in districts vulnerable to water-borne diseases.
Announcing the collaboration between Deutsche Bank and Brandix at a news conference, Rohan Rodrigo, the Bank’s CEO in Sri Lanka said: “We are aware that there is a high incidence of chronic renal failure and other water-borne diseases attributed to the high levels of fluoride in the water in parts of the North Central Province and the North Western Province. Brandix has done some excellent work to help communities tackle this problem, and Deutsche Bank is pleased to support this project and work with Brandix to improve the quality of life of people in affected areas.”
Anusha Alles, Head of CSR at Brandix said: “A strong and caring partner like Deutsche Bank will generate greater interest in our own community projects conducted under the theme ‘Water is Life.’ This partnership could be the start to many good projects and be a precedent for more partnerships among corporate entities for projects that result in tangible and meaningful interventions in poor rural communities.”
Speaking on behalf of the CWSSP, Consultant Mr U. Sapukotana said the Brandix-Deutsche Bank Water Purification Project would directly benefit families chosen on the basis of their exposure to water-borne diseases. The community-based organisations of the CWSSP had, with the assistance of medical practitioners, identified people most affected, he said, disclosing that priority had been given to families where at least one member had already developed renal problems due to bad drinking water.
“There are more than 3,000 people registered with kidney diseases at the Medawachchiya Renal Care Centre alone,” Mr. Sapukotana said. “Large numbers of families in Medawachchiya and Thalawa in Anuradhapura desperately need fluoride filters but cannot afford them.”
Already, more than 40 people from affected communities in the North Central Province have been trained at the Brandix Water Research & Training Centre in Anuradhapura on the importance of filtering drinking water and the use and maintenance of the filters specially designed for the areas affected by contaminated water. These persons will in turn train the recipient families on how to use and clean the filters. The Community-based organisations will monitor the use and maintenance of the filters distributed, while Brandix has undertaken to periodically conduct random tests of the quality of the filtered water to ensure that the beneficiaries are being protected against health complications.
Contaminated drinking water has been scientifically linked to the high incidence in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province of Dental Fluorosis, Chronic Renal Failure and other health hazards. Research carried out by several agencies including the Water Resources Board, has revealed that one in every 10 people living in the NCP suffers from a kidney disease as a result of drinking water contaminated with heavy metals and agro-chemicals and the use of low quality aluminum containers to store water.
In September last year, Brandix donated to the government of Sri Lanka a Water Research and Training Centre purpose-built and equipped at a cost of Rs 25 million to help address this problem. The 7,000 square-foot Laboratory and Training Centre at Anuradhapura is dedicated to reducing the occurrence of such health problems through a combination of awareness and training programmes on water purification, conservation and management and the manufacture and distribution of low cost household water filters across the province.
Deutsche Bank believes it is important to contribute to the communities in which it operates. To this end, the Deutsche Bank Asia Foundation has been involved in a wide range of charitable initiatives in Sri Lanka, including microfinance projects; a contemporary art charity event; housing construction; health screening projects; and a large scale redevelopment of a UNESCO world heritage listed site in Anuradhapura. In response to the 2004 tsunami, an extensive relief effort included building 22 pre-schools in the District of Hambantota, which supported over 350 children in the district.
Brandix pioneered the concept of total solutions in the Sri Lankan apparel industry and was once again recognized as Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporter by the Export Development Board at a ceremony held on the 6th of June 2008. The Group’s CSR efforts are driven by the central corporate theme ‘Water is Life’ and constitute a long term commitment to increasing the availability of water and the provision of safe drinking water to those most in need. The Group’s community outreach initiatives also include providing water through desalination plants, wells and pipe-borne water to communities in and around its manufacturing plants and the improvement of sanitation facilities in needy areas
Friday, June 6, 2008
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, June 6, 2008: Brandix, Sri Lanka’s inspired solutions provider for branded clothing has once again been recognized as the country’s largest apparel exporter by the Export Development Board (EDB).
Prof. G. L. Peiris
Commenting on the group’s achievement and its contribution to the national economy, Brandix CEO Ashroff Omar said: “The concluded year was one of the most challenging ever, but it was also the year in which Brandix launched the highest number of projects. We remain committed to investing in future growth and it is heartening to see that our contribution to the export economy of the country has been noted by the policymakers.”
Among the significant new projects in 2007-08 was the conversion of the Brandix Casualwear Seeduwa factory into a Green plant, for which Brandix is aiming to secure the highest global certification, Mr. Omar said. The Group also plans to make all of its manufacturing operations eco-friendly and has set itself the target of reducing its carbon footprint by 35 per cent by 2012.
One of the highlights of the concluded year was the opening in January 2008 of Brandix Mercury, a Shared Services Centre, and the migration of virtually all the Group’s financial accounting processes to the unit, transforming the way service functions are performed.
Comprising of 25 fully-integrated manufacturing facilities backed by strategically located international sourcing offices, Brandix provides direct employment to over 25,000 people. The Group specializes in casual bottoms, intimate wear, active wear, textiles, knitted fabrics, sewing and embroidery thread, accessories and hangers as well as wet processing, finishing and fabric printing.
