Green Panties Hitting U.K. Streets

June 2, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

The green underwear produced at a new lingerie factory in Thulhiriya, Sri Lanka — perhaps the world’s first carbon-neutral clothes factory — hits the streets of the U.K. this month and will cost no more than existing garments, TheEconomist reports.

For Britain’s largest clothier, Marks & Spencer, the factory is part of its five-year drive to become carbon-neutral by 2012. MAS, contributed $400,000 toward the cost of the factory’s deisgn and solar panels, which provide 10 percent of its energy needs. MAS expects the factory’s 25-percent higher construction costs — about $7 million — to have paid for themselves in less than five years.

“The MAS factory is a truly exciting development in clothing production,” Sir Stuart Rose, chief executive of M&S said at the opening. “It really has been a partnership of two like-minded companies, M&S and MAS, and will trial a completely new approach to manufacturing and set standards for others to follow. Not only has it been designed to be carbon neutral, use less electricity and less water than a similar scale clothing factory, it will also produce great quality lingerie products – what our customers would expect from M&S – whilst ensuring its workers are treated well through its leading standards in employee welfare.”

The MAS Holdings factory, Sri Lanka’s largest apparel manufacturer, uses evaporative cooling instead of air conditioning; is powered 100 percent by renewable energy (90percent hydroelectric); has enough natural light for workers; and uses 40 percent less energy than most factories its size.

MAS says it has reduced carbon-dioxide emissions from its British operations by nine percent, despite opening 103 new stores, and plans to reduce its emissions more with a fleet of 140 tear-shaped trailers, which use 10 percent less fuel and provide 16 percent more space than their less aerodynamic forebears do.

MAS announced the construction on its 110,000-square-foot eco-friendly plant in November, 2007.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Enhance Sustainability. Improve Profitability.

Learn how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Survey Results: Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader