For environmental subjects, we recently intensified its partnership with an external party that has constructed, monitored and managed the wastewater treatment plant at our dyeing mill from the very beginning. Furthermore, they oversee the different environmental permits, applications, related follow up, and collaborate with us on fulfilling specific customer demands related to environmental topics.
To decrease its environmental impact, we have established collaborations with several local organizations that recycle and upcycle our production wastage. For this purpose, different materials are collected on a regular basis such as paper, tube lights, needles, swatches and plastics. New connections and collaborations are constantly developed for further improvement of this program.
On the factory premises in Antsirabe, we invested in and manage a plant nursery. Young plants have been donated over the last years to the Environmental Ministry’s reforestation program. A delegation of Flexknit employees has recently participated in a company reforestation activity on a designated terrain close to Antananarivo. Currently, the possibilities to execute tree planting activities during the next upcoming years on a specific terrain are being researched.
Fanavotana
Since 2017 Flexknit is working with FANAVOTANA to support underprivileged women in Antananarivo. This collaboration was initiated by the Association for Sustainable Development and Green Economy in Madagascar, short ADDEV, where Flexknit is a member of the executive committee.
The goals are to recycle garbage from businesses located in the districts of Ankorondrano, Andraharo and Ivandry, give income-generating activities to women from disadvantaged families, while helping to preserve the environment and sanitation. FANAVOTANA also provides useful support for the daily life and the social and professional reintegration. After two years, 78 companies and individuals support this project and 50 women received trainings as well as a regular income. Additionally 12,500kg of waste have been collected and recycled.
Global Green Energy
The project “Global Green Energy” aims to significantly increase the share of bioenergy and biofuels derived from biomass in Madagascar.
Currently, private households and the industry in Madagascar are responsible for an alarmingly high rate of deforestation. About 100.000ha forest are disappearing every year. To supply Malagasy industry with an alternative to fuelwood, Flexknit has opened a briquetting factory near the capital Antananarivo. The factory produces briquettes from biomass, currently mainly from tares or sawdust. Besides this we are continuously experimenting with the use of plants like Arundo Donax, which is known for its huge biomass yield and other organic waste materials.1
In our main garment factory, we are already using our briquettes made from natural food waste for our boilers. It is our goal to stop the problem of deforestation together with the Malagasy population and to create an alternative in order to protect nature sustainably.
