Sustainability the Brandix way

Naadia Buhary 

Following the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, the Paris Agreement which came into effect in November 2016 has been a game changer in how the world views sustainable development. Aimed at limiting global warming to well below two degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, industries are realising the need for strategies to mitigate their impact on the environment. Brandix Apparel Limited, a leading apparel manufacturer headquartered in Sri Lanka, was well ahead of the curve on environmental responsibility.

Brandix Assistant Manager – Sustainability and flag bearer of its sustainability drive Naadia Buhary, having graduated from Monash with a double degree in Biotechnology and Environmental Management, joined Brandix straight after, knowing it as a company that integrates sustainability to the way it does business. Following are excerpts of an interview with Buhary:

Q: How is Brandix integrating sustainability into its corporate DNA?

 The fashion industry is widely known as the world’s second highest polluting industry after oil and gas, with research indicating that nearly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and significant consumption of the world’s water supply are attributed to it. As an apparel manufacturer, we were acutely aware of the environmental impact of our operations and believe in playing an instrumental role in addressing some of these critical challenges. 

While sustainability is viewed in many ways, at Brandix, it has always been about mitigating and providing a solution to the impact made by our operations on the environment; it is simply our way of doing business.

At the onset of our sustainability journey in 2007, we recognised the importance of ensuring that our operations are energy and water efficient, shifting from non-renewable to renewable sources of energy, and minimising our waste footprint. The three pillars of our sustainability strategy – Air, Water, and Earth – took shape from this insight and we were committed to not only be sustainable, but to do it emulating our value of ‘Excellence’. 

Q:  How has the sustainability journey evolved for Brandix?

In 2007, our baseline indicators helped us prioritise our impact under strategic focus areas to drive the most transformative change. As a result, over the past 14 years, we were able to focus our efforts on improving our environmental performance through pioneering initiatives, i.e. being one of the earliest adopters of magnetic bearing chillers for our facilities in Sri Lanka. Additionally, while Sri Lanka lacked the infrastructure for recycling at a national level, we were able to divert our waste from landfills and improve our waste recycling pathways. 

With energy and water management serving as a critical strategy across our operations, we started the transition towards renewable energy as early as 2010 by switching to biomass for our boilers and implementing rooftop solar PV. Today, our renewable share of energy is at 60%.

In 2019, we made the bold move to commit to Net Zero Carbon emissions for our apparel manufacturing operations in Sri Lanka by 2023, becoming the first and only Sri Lankan signatory to date to the World Green Building Council’s Advancing Net Zero Programme. Having committed ourselves for over 14 years to improving our energy and emissions impact, it was certainly a step in the right direction for us. 

In line with this, in 2019 we also set ambitious Sustainability goals for 2023 as we continue to align our strategy to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and aim to deliver greater impact through our operations for our planet and communities.

Having set forth on our sustainability journey by setting a global benchmark for the manufacturing sector and the apparel industry, our sustainability ambitions will remain at the core of our operations. We will continue to strive towards new benchmarks as we lead the way to becoming a truly sustainable manufacturer. 

Q:  What are the key milestones Brandix has reached in its journey towards sustainability and Net Zero Carbon?

Having committed to becoming a truly sustainable manufacturer, we have always remained at the forefront of adopting world-class best practices for sustainability and have been fortunate to be recognised nationally and internationally for our efforts. 

One such milestone was establishing the world’s first LEED Platinum rated apparel manufacturing facility in Seeduwa in 2008. While it solidified our commitment to sustainable manufacturing, it also paved the way for other apparel manufacturers in Sri Lanka and the region to set targets for greater environmental impact.  

Since the Paris Agreement came into effect, there has been increased attention on the need to achieve net zero carbon emissions. In 2019, our purpose-built Batticaloa facility was recognised as the world’s first Net Zero Carbon certified apparel manufacturing facility, enabling us to set a benchmark in the Sri Lankan apparel industry as well. To date, we have five LEED certified facilities, and our Head Office in Colombo is Sri Lanka’s first commercial building to be certified Green Mark Platinum, representing our commitment to sustainability. 

Q:  Where do you see sustainability heading here on ahead?

Climate change continues to impact our environment far more significantly than before. We see extreme weather events, marine pollution, and poor air quality increasing each year and this is why a commitment to sustainability is non-negotiable. If we, as industry and individuals do not make a conscious effort to change, the impacts on our planet will be irreversible. 

We’ve seen a noticeable shift in perception within the fashion industry and it is heartening to see the efforts undertaken by the apparel industry in Sri Lanka and the region to mitigate the impact of operations on the environment. There has been progress made, but there is much more to be done. Strategies like material circularity and net zero carbon emissions are taking shape and at Brandix, we will continue to push the boundaries to lead the way for our industry and the region, in our efforts to leave a lasting impact for the future.