FutureStitch bags the highest LEED platinum certification

FutureStitch is the first US-based manufacturer in China to receive the LEED platinum certification, which recognises FutureStitch’s achievement in operating a healthier, more energy and resource-efficient building. The factory was built using a fraction of the concrete typically used to build manufacturing facilities, and, instead, is constructed with recycled, ultra-durable metals like aluminium alloys and steel, according to a press release by FutureStitch.

Around 500,000 kilowatts (kWh) of power is saved annually through the use of efficient lighting, on-site solar heating, and maximised access to natural lighting, reducing annual carbon dioxide emissions by 498.5 tons. A geothermal air conditioning system pumps cooled groundwater through the building, reducing energy costs and eliminating the need to use any ozone-depleting substances.

Fresh air is circulated throughout the factory, including the production workshops, to reduce carbon dioxide and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and maintain high air quality. State-of-the-art chemical injection systems alleviate the need for waste water. Products are finished using a dry-cleaning method instead of wet processes. More than 90 per cent of employees commute through green travel.

FutureStitch’s 300,000-square-foot facility in China’s Zhejiang Province opened in October 2018. Through a combination of world-class technicians, advanced software and industry-leading machinery, the operation delivers speed-to-market and competitive pricing for its customers. Designed by world-renowned architect Zhang Lei, FutureStitch’s state-of-the-art facility is SA8000 compliant, the world’s leading social performance certification programme focused on worker well-being, and includes a library, basketball court, gym, and 4,000-square-foot art gallery, reflecting FutureStitch’s commitment to providing its employees a place to live, learn, play, exercise, and relax.

“Since our founding, FutureStitch has had an equal focus on producing high-quality products and raising global manufacturing standards. Addressing society’s most pressing issues, such as combatting climate change and providing meaningful employment with living wages, should be a primary goal for all manufacturing companies. Our platinum LEED certification demonstrates that it is possible for any manufacturer to move beyond aspiration and take action to create a workplace that both engages employees and reduces its impact on the environment. We have set a new global standard for textile manufacturing, and we will continue to pioneer innovative, socially and environmentally responsible approaches as we look to build our first US-based factory,” FutureStitch co-founder and CEO, Taylor Shupe said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)