Sri Lanka Boasts World's First Carbon-Neutral Underwear Factory
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08. 5.08
Green clothing is about far more than choice of fabric. Knowing that under garments are often made in developing economies, for example, the customer stereotype might well involve coal-fired incandescent lamps hung over rows of toiling women and children.
Set aside those bad lingerie thoughts: MAS Holdings of Sri Lanka has a hot green date with the global economy. Their factory is advertised as a world first for carbon neutrality. And it sounds as good as this model looks. There's no refrigerant-filled compressor for air conditioning.
Instead it uses evaporative cooling, which leaves the workplace around four degrees hotter than air-conditioning would—but uses much less energy.
The factory includes natural lighting of workspace, green roof, and so on. With the result that:
Overall it uses 40% less energy than an ordinary factory of the same size. And the electricity it uses is from renewable sources: 90% from a hydro-power plant and 10% from on-site solar panels.
We suggest a look at the MAS website for details on their social responsibility programs as well.
The money quote:
The factory cost $7m to build, around 25% more than its traditional equivalent. That is partly due to a lot of fancy touches included to meet M&S's demand for an "iconic" factory. Stripped to its basic design, it would have cost about 15% over the odds. The factory's power also costs extra. But in a country that generates 65% of its electricity with imported oil—and saw power-price inflation of 30% in March—the extra costs are offset by energy savings. MAS expects the higher construction costs to have paid for themselves in less than five years.
Via::WBCSD, & The Economist of May 31, 2008, Get your green pants here - Eco-manufacturing
Image credit::MAS Holdings, lingerie model
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With the workplace around four degrees hotter ... I suppose this explains why an employee is napping in her lace frillies.
but more seriously, it is nice to see them finding energy efficient ways to achieve better working conditions.
Between the eco bikini & this, my "workplace" is about 4 degrees hotter, too.
I'm assuming they pay a living wage? I just wrote to find out about that and where they sell their products in the U.S.
Interesting subject matter...though I'm not sure I am pleased with TreeHugger's choice of image...
Must we be met with hypersexual mainstream images of women even while browsing our alternative eco-news source?
"Must we be met with hypersexual mainstream images of women even while browsing our alternative eco-news source?"
We can only hope...
Is there an easy way to decrease the use of energy to cool workplaces around the world? Absolutely! Employers should do away with dress codes and allow people to dress comfortably in warm weather, e.g., shorts. Not only will you reduce the energy needed for cooling, you reduce the need for creating/shipping/buying business clothing and all of the energy/chemicals/petroleum/water needed to wash and iron said clothing. And less demand for wool means less sheep, which means less carbon, more vegetation, cleaner water, etc.
=== author's response follows ===
Yes. MAS has done just that!
If they'd use eco safe fabrics- upcycled, recycled, orgainc etc- they would be perfect!
Where can I buy this stuff, I love it!
I think is totally appropriate to use a hot model. Sex sells and if environmentalists need to use tactics like this to encourage change, I support it. The fact that Pamela Anderson actively supports PETA is just one example. I would like to see more. Put David Beckem in a pair of organic underwear and you will see sales rise (and me smile!)
It's great that changes are afoot on an industrial scale! We have big plans for our factories in the future....everything can (and should) be redesigned!
This has made my morning...very inspiring!
Rich : )
www.socksforhappypeople.com