VF Corporation joins IFC's PaCT sustainability programme

The partnership will result in PaCT engaging with VF Corporation’s supplier factories to raise awareness and assess basic cleaner production.

IFC aims to help reduce energy and chemical use in Bangladesh with PaCT sustainability programme. Apart from VF Corporation, 12 other brands have pledged their support to the programme, according to Bangladesh media reports.

“Resource efficiency is a core facet of VF’s Responsible Sourcing programme. Through investments and continuous support from VF, we aim to assist our strategic suppliers in reducing their water, energy, waste, and chemical use, while simultaneously reducing the cost of production,” said Brad van Voorhees, senior manager, environmental practices and sustainable operations, VF Corporation.

The PaCT programme has helped save 14.4 billion litres of water and 1.23 million MWh of energy per year in Bangladesh. It also worked towards saving resources worth $10 million annually across 162 partner factories and reduced GHG emission by 188,000 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent per year.

“Water is a key input in the textile sector and large quantities are consumed in the direct operations and supply chain. Current groundwater abstraction rates in Bangladesh are close to their limit and growth projection of $50 billion by 2021 can only be achieved with the development of sustainable water supplies, effluent treatment facilities and resource efficient practices,” said Mohan Seneviratne, IFC program manager for PaCT.

VF Corporation has also joined hands with IFC for the Vietnam Improvement Project (VIP). (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India