Ocean Lanka enters internationally recognised Bluesign system partnership

Bluesign Technologies ag CRM Manager, Director Sales – Asia/Ocean, Walter Streitler (second from left) and Ocean Lanka Managing Director Dr. Austin Au exchange the agreement. Others from left: Bluesign Technologies ag Official Representative – Sri Lanka, Nishan Senevirathna, Fabric Development, Ocean Lanka Assistant Manager Chathumadura Liyanagama and Divisional Head, R&D, Ocean Lanka, Nawas A. Rasheed looks on

Ocean Lanka Ltd., Sri Lanka’s largest weft knitted fabric manufacturer, has recently received the honour of achieving the status of system partnership with Bluesign. Bluesign is a Swiss holistic system that provides solutions in sustainable processing and manufacturing to industries and brands. 

Ocean Lanka stands out as the first-ever manufacturer within the textile and apparel industry of Sri Lanka to come into system partnership with Bluesign, thereby dedicating themselves to the continuous improvement of environmental performance.

The recently concluded comprehensive Bluesign assessment at Ocean Lanka’s manufacturing facility confirmed that the company meets high standards for environmental performance, wellbeing and responsible use of chemicals and other hazardous substances. As a system partner of Bluesign, Ocean Lanka is dedicated to reducing the effects of manufacturing on people and the environment.  

Ocean Lanka Managing Director Dr. Austin Au stated: “We are extremely honoured to achieve the milestone of being the first-ever Bluesign system partner in the textile and apparel industry. Throughout the past two decades, Ocean Lanka has remained committed to reducing the adverse impacts induced on the people and environment. We are indeed overjoyed by this monumental achievement, which would ensure safer and more sustainable environment for all our stakeholders in the long run.”

Innovation, optimal customer service, sustainable human resource development as well as discovering and contributing to new market segments have led to the Ocean Lanka’s significant growth and attested to securing its position in the exclusive club of apparel and textile manufacturers who strive to reducing the impacts on the people and environment.  

Bluesign technologies ag CRM Manager and Director Sales – Asia/Ocean Walter Streitler commented: “Bluesign has recognised the potential in Ocean Lanka in becoming a textile and apparel manufacturer that can expressively focus on reducing its harmful impacts on the environment and we are proud to have Ocean Lanka as our system partner. 

“In a day and age where environment, safety and wellbeing best practices are rapidly deteriorating, Bluesign ensures that harmful practices are eliminated from the very beginning. Apart from reducing the risks, the Bluesign system encourages its system partners to continuously improve safety during the use of chemicals, optimise processes regarding resource consumption and change the product design in terms of environmental impact.”

The Bluesign system, based on input stream management, ensures that approved chemical products and raw materials are used in all steps of the manufacturing process and that substances posing risks to people and the environment are eliminated. On-site inspections verify the proper application of chemical products and raw materials in controlled processes and ensure the responsible use of resources to guarantee the highest level of consumer safety.

Pix by Ruwan Walpola