South Asia Textiles commits to SBTi to limit global warming at 1.5°C

South Asia Textiles (SAT), a fully-owned subsidiary Hayleys Fabric PLC, joined its parent company in committing to the Science-Based Targets initiatives (SBTi) for reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and limiting global warming to1.5°C. 

Hayleys Fabric and and SAT are two of the total of five manufacturers to add its name to a growing list of major global corporations committing to the SBTi. 

With the launch of the Hayleys Lifecode by the parent company Hayleys PLC, SAT started to introduce its own customized  roadmap, and defined targets to supplement the inherent knowledge and expertise built up within the organization. The efforts were taken to anchor the manufacturer’s performance to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). 

“With our commitment to SBTi, we have gained even greater competitive advantages, which align with the rising consumer demand for more sustainable brands,” said South Asia Textiles and Hayleys Fabric Managing Director/CEO, Rohan Goonetilleke.

SBTi specifies how much and how quickly a company needs to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the Paris Agreement goals to limit global warming keeping it at 1.5°C and well below 2°C, and is also part of a broader effort to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. These targets will be achieved through innovation, reducing waste, unlocking efficiencies, and strengthening investor confidence while reducing regulatory risk, uncertainty, and exposure to volatility in energy costs. Crucially, significant positive environmental sustainability initiatives undertaken will support the company’s commitment to SBTi . 

Launched in collaboration with CDP Worldwide, World Resources Institute (WRI), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the targets are globally recognized commitments that companies make as part of the ‘We Mean Business Coalition’s Take Action’ platform on climate change. 

As part of its commitments, SAT also recently obtained the ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications for elevating its environmental sustainability and employee health and safety systems on par with global best practices. In pursuit of these certifications, the company made significant investments towards the upgrade its effluent water treatment plant, including installing a high-quality raw water filtration unit. Moreover, the company formed environment, health, and safety (EHS) teams representing all departments to update and enhance EHS protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) and conduct comprehensive training and awareness sessions.

South Asia Textiles, a subsidiary of Hayleys Fabric PLC, is a leading manufacturer and exporter of textiles. The company, which commenced its commercial operations in 2004, specializes in knitting, dyeing, finishing, printing, brushing, and sueding pre-shrunk fabric for leading global brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Next, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Calvin Klein, Decathlon and Adidas.