Top apparel exporter marks World Water Day across manufacturing units; targets conservation of more than 100,000 litres of water per day
United in their employment at Brandix, the country's largest apparel exporter, thousands upon thousands of the company's associates stood together in manufacturing locations across the country on 22nd March to pledge their support to the Group's continuing efforts to conserve water as a flagship CSR commitment.
In observances organized Group-wide to mark World Water Day, they collectively took a solemn oath to do everything in their power to reduce water wastage and actively support Brandix's 'Deyata Diya: Landhunata Diriya' community agenda under which the Group helps needy people and communities access clean water, and promotes water conservation at all its business units.
The occasion was also used to unveil a new logo and theme for the Group's CSR initiatives -- 'Care for Water: Care for Women' -- and the launch of a poster campaign advocating water conservation.
"As a business group that has made Water its principal community initiative, we take the water issues faced by our associates, our country and the world at large very seriously," said Anusha Alles, Head of CSR at Brandix. "We estimate that eliminating waste alone could result in a saving of five litres of water per day per associate, leading to an overall saving of over 100,000 litres of water per day."
"As a business group that has made Water its principal community initiative, we take the water issues faced by our associates, our country and the world at large very seriously,"Anusha Alles, Head of CSR at Brandix
Iresha Somarathna, Head of Environmental and Energy Management at Brandix said the Group would support this conservation effort by investing in new economical toilet flushing systems, water recycling plants and rain water harvesting systems at all factories. "The ultimate objective is to ensure that every drop is used, and all wastage is eliminated."
For its part, the Group pledged to resolve issues relating to access to water of all associates eligible for assistance under its 'Care for our Own' programme. Over the past two years, Brandix has built water supply infrastructure for 768 associates, directly benefitting several thousand people, and is in the process of interviewing more applicants seeking help.
The Group's CSR efforts will be driven by the central corporate theme 'Care for Water: Care for Women' and constitute a long term commitment to increasing the availability of water and the provision of safe drinking water to those most in need. Given the fact that the majority of the Group's employees are women, these efforts significantly contribute to easing the burden on them, extending the scope of these initiatives to encompass care for women.
The Group's community outreach initiatives also include providing water through wells and pipe-borne water to communities in and around its manufacturing plants and the improvement of sanitation facilities in needy areas.
