Brandix to inspire new ideas for water saving to mark World Water Day

• Challenges associates across 30 factories in Sri Lanka to become ‘water soldiers’ to reduce consumption innovatively

The Brandix Group is motivating its 30,000 plus employees in Sri Lanka to mount a mass assault on water usage in their work places in an innovative new initiative to commemorate World Water Day 2015. Declaring a ‘World Water Month’ from 20 February to 20 March across 30 local factories of the Group, Sri Lanka’s single largest apparel exporter has pledged Rs. 500,000 in prize money to the three most innovative water saving ideas that come from cross-functional teams from each of these factories. Titled ‘Diya Senevi’ or ‘Water Soldiers’, this initiative by the Brandix ‘Bindu’ Foundation – the Group’s water-centred Corporate Social Responsibility unit – requires each factory to constitute a team of 15 associates tasked with studying its water consumption over a three week period, and to submit an innovative way in which that consumption may be reduced. The winning team will receive Rs. 250,000 while the first and second runners up will receive Rs. 150,000 and Rs. 100,000 respectively, the company said. World Water Day is commemorated around the world annually on 22 March. This year’s theme is ‘Water and Sustainable Development’. “The most innovative and practical ideas that this competition generates will be considered for implementation wherever applicable across the Group,” said Brandix Group Head of CSR Anusha Alles. “Conservation of natural resources is not just part of the corporate DNA of Brandix, it permeates the consciousness of individuals too and we eagerly look forward to the results of this year’s initiative.” In previous years, the Brandix Group celebrated World Water Day by rewarding associates in Sri Lanka who through their own individual efforts and expense had helped others in their communities with their water-related needs. This program, titled ‘Nihanda Mehewara’ (silent service), provided financial support to community water or sanitation projects identified by the winners. The pioneer of the concept of ‘total solutions’ in Sri Lanka’s apparel sector and a preferred supplier to some of the top retail brands in the US and Europe, Brandix is a benchmark and international award winner for eco-friendly manufacture and commitment to environmental best practice. The Group’s principal CSR efforts are driven by the central corporate theme of ‘Water’ and constitute a long term commitment to increasing the availability of water and the provision of safe drinking water to those most in need.