Brandix Sustainability Summit focuses on ethical impacts
Brandix Apparel Ltd’s Sustainability Summit for 2022, held for the second consecutive year on Tuesday at the Brandix Essentials office complex in Ratmalana, focussed on ethical impacts driving future business operations.
The hybrid event included virtual participants as well as an audience of multiple stakeholders such as business leaders, government representatives, NGOs, and guests keen in gaining information on areas crucial to manufacturing industries.
Discussions centred around the role of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), and its importance for future business operations. Especially critical issues on a global scale were addressed in understanding a business’s sustainability efforts and success aligned to the triple bottom line’s three key areas of profit, people, and the planet, the company said in a media release.
The event hosted eminent local and international panellists. Representing Bandix were Akila Fernando, Deputy General Manager, Group Engineering and Vinura Jayewardene, Group Sustainability Engineer. They elaborated on the group’s sustainability path of over 15 years, focusing on three key pillars of air, water and earth.
“Brandix takes pride in ensuring that each location where it operates its facilities is a better place than when the company initially arrived, by enhancing the living conditions and wellbeing of the community,” said Mr. Jayewardene. He elaborated how Brandix’s flagship Water Projects initiative in Sri Lanka has provided access to clean water for drinking and household needs for over a quarter of a million people, whilst in India, free eye camps to screen patients and extend medical support and spectacles, had benefitted over 35,000 recipients to-date.
Claire Kells, Senior Manager Corporate Engagement, UN Global Compact, spoke of her organisation’s work in helping companies throughout their sustainability journey, promoting best practices and offering methodologies to effectively track results, through the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UN Global Compact’s ESG principles.
Claire Kells, Senior Manager Corporate Engagement, UN Global Compact, spoke of her organisation’s work in helping companies throughout their sustainability journey, promoting best practices and offering methodologies to effectively track results, through the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UN Global Compact’s ESG principles.
Another speaker, Ruby Ojha, Senior Environmental and Social Development Specialist – International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, shared insights on ESG for Sustainability, an overview of IFC Performance Standards and IFC’s initiatives in the ReadyMade Garment Sector with special relevance to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Tejas Sampat, Senior Director, Corporate Responsibility (SA) and Global Sustainability (Offshore) - PVH Corp. also shared his views on changes in the fashion industry. He spoke on opportunities to drive fashion forward making a positive impact for the good of mankind.