Garments Without Guilt’s green factories have found a few ways to make a difference. As you may already know, three of Sri Lanka’s largest apparel manufacturers have launched eco-factories in conjunction with large retail giants such as Marks & Spencer and GAP, who are well known for their efforts in the ethical and environmental spheres.

Brandix’s converted eco-factory has already reduced its carbon footprint by 77%. You can read the full story from the GWG news page by clicking here. They’ve reduced their electricity usage by 48% and water consumption by 58%. Brandix has another green-converted factory is on its way.

MAS Intimates has begun building a new eco-friendly plant in the town of Thulhiriya which will manufacture lingerie for UK-based Marks and Spencer, who want to make sure that all of their operations worldwide use sustainable sources and processes to help them meet their goal of being completely carbon neutral by 2012.

Meanwhile garment manufacturer The Hirdaramani Group has been building a ‘green’ factory as well, and is also gradually making all of the group’s existing factories more environmentally friendly.

Their first ‘green’ factory was launched with a celebratory ‘Green Week’ which included a tree planting campaign. Trees were planted across the factory’s campus, and another 1000 plants were distributed to factory members to be grown in their homes. 

For those companies who need more help in reducing their footprint, companies like Carbonfund.org can help. They help to calculate your company’s current carbon footprint and then help you offset it by investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency, reforestation or a combination of the three. They offer solutions for businesses of all sizes, and products to help you be more efficient.

They even offer ways to offset the carbon created by shipping. In a global economy where our products are made in one country and shipped to another, it’s an important consideration.

Terrapass.com and Be Green Now.com are other similar sites that offer a variety of offsets for individuals and businesses. Be Green Now offers packages for frequent fliers that you can put on your luggage to let others know you’re flying carbon neutral.

There are many companies that offer these carbon offsets, and when used in conjunction with eco-friendly business practices as well as personal choices, we can really make a difference in the sustainability of our planet, our businesses and our lives.