Sri Lanka’s Teejay to become first Lankan business to gain membership in US Cotton Trust Protocol
Sri Lankan textile manufacturer Teejay Lanka and its wholly-owned subsidiary Teejay India have reportedly been welcomed by the US Cotton Protocol as new members.
Teejay is the first textile manufacturer in Sri Lanka to join the Trust Protocol and membership will allow the company to prove the cotton fibre element in its sourcing mix is more sustainably grown with lower environmental and social risk, local media reports stated.
“Cotton is Teejay’s principal raw material, and we are committed to sourcing from verified sustainable and ethical producers,” Teejay Lanka CEO Pubudu De Silva has been quoted as saying in the local media. “We are proud to become the first Sri Lankan company to join the US Cotton Trust Protocol as a further affirmation of our commitment to use sustainably and ethically produced raw materials, as well as our promise of transparency throughout the supply chain.”
According to reports, the US Cotton Trust Protocol is a farm level, science-based programme that sets a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton. It brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurements to sustainable cotton production as well as drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics – Land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, GHG emissions, and energy efficiency. Members will also be provided with full supply chain transparency through the Protocol Credit Management System.
“We are pleased to welcome Teejay to the Trust Protocol and assist their efforts to source more sustainably grown cotton,” US Cotton Trust Protocol President Dr. Gary Adams has reportedly stated. “We understand that supply chain transparency is a business imperative, and the Trust Protocol is the world’s first sustainable cotton fibre to provide a fully transparent supply chain for all members through our Protocol Credit Management System. We look forward to assisting Teejay’s sustainability and transparency commitments.”
The Trust Protocol has welcomed more than 350 brand, retailer, mill and manufacturer members since its launch in 2020.
The US Cotton Trust Protocol is also aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and recognised by Textile Exchange and Forum for the Future, and is also part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cotton 2025 Sustainable Cotton Challenge, Cotton 2040, and Cotton Up initiatives.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s apparel industry has shown a continuous growth despite the challenges posed by the global Covid 19 pandemic. The country’s manufacturing and exports sectors have shown a growth momentum despite pandemic challenges. The many trade agreements as well as trade concessions enjoyed by the country have also boosted the country’s manufacturing and exports sectors, especially the apparel industry. Several Sri Lankan apparel sector companies have expanded operations to foreign countries, which is indicative of the strength and growth of the country’s industries sector. Foreign organizations have also recognised Sri Lanka’s apparel companies. All this is indicative of the expanding business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s manufacturing and exports sectors, especially in the apparel industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20210719/Z_6 |