Hayleys Fabrics receives ZDHC Torchbearer Award

• Sri Lankan textile manufacturer honoured for sustainable chemical management in South Asia

Hayleys Fabrics PLC, Sri Lanka’s largest and leading textile manufacturer, has been recognised for its exceptional leadership in sustainable chemical management by receiving the prestigious ZDHC Torchbearer Award. 
The award was presented by ZDHC South Asia Region Director Prasad Pant, at the fifth ZDHC South Asia Regional Conference on Sustainable Chemical Management in the Fashion Industry, held in Chennai, India, recently.

Executive Director HR and Administration Prasanna Pathirana collected the award on behalf of Hayleys Fabric. This recognition is a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and its dedication to creating a safer and healthier textile industry. As the Gold sponsor of the fifth ZDHC South Asia Regional Conference, Hayleys Fabric further demonstrated its leadership in promoting sustainable chemical management.

ZDHC

The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Foundation is a global nonprofit organisation dedicated to eliminating the discharge of harmful chemicals from the textile, apparel and footwear industries. Its mission is to create a sustainable and safe textile supply chain that protects both the environment and human health. The ZDHC collaborates with leading brands, retailers, manufacturers and suppliers worldwide to develop and implement standards, tools and programmes that promote sustainable chemical management.

A pioneering achievement and 
recognition of excellence

Hayleys Fabrics has been a signatory member of the ZDHC Foundation since 2021, actively working towards its Roadmap to Zero programme. However, the company has been following the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero programme since 2015, demonstrating its early commitment to sustainable chemical management. 
At the conference, Hayleys Fabric PLC Head of Compliance Dunstan Weragala featured as a speaker to share on how the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero programme has been instrumental in its business sustainability goals.
Notably, Hayleys Fabrics is the first and only Sri Lankan textile manufacturer to receive the ZDHC Torchbearer Award, underscoring its pioneering role in the industry. This award recognises organisations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in implementing the ZDHC Supplier to Zero programme, which promotes sustainable chemical management. Hayleys Fabrics was selected for this prestigious award based on its:

• Consistent implementation of ZDHC programmes
• Active support for upstream stakeholders
• Contribution to the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero
• Demonstrated leadership in sustainable chemical management

Key factors for success

The company’s commitment to sustainable chemical management practices throughout its supply chain has been instrumental in securing this prestigious award. In his acceptance speech, Pathirana acknowledged the key role played by Hayleys Fabrics Managing Director and CEO Rohan Goonetilleke, whose blessing and support have been instrumental in the company’s journey towards sustainability. 

Furthermore, he highlighted the dedicated efforts of the company’s Compliance Division, headed by DGM Compliance Dunstan Weragala, which have been crucial in driving Hayleys Fabrics’ progress towards sustainable chemical management through the ZDHC programme.

A milestone in sustainable 
textile manufacturing

Hayleys Fabrics PLC’s commitment to sustainable chemical management is a cornerstone of its broader sustainability goals, embedded in the Hayleys Life code. By prioritising sustainable practices, the company contributes to a safer textile supply chain, environmental protection and responsible consumption, aligning with UN SDGs and ESG principles. This accomplishment once again establishes Hayleys Fabric PLC as the leading force in sustainable textile manufacturing in Sri Lanka, setting a benchmark for others to emulate.