SMART Textile & Garments

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SMART Textile & Garments

Promoting environmentally friendly practices in the garment sector

Energy

Waste & pollution

Background

Due to weakly enforced emissions regulations and almost no restrictions on fuel sources, garment factories and other manufacturers in Myanmar often use coal and wood fuel for boilers, contributing to deforestation, worsening local air quality, and boosting greenhouse gas emissions.

The project

Being clean and sustainable in industries is firstly about reducing waste. Typical garment factories in Myanmar waste millions of kyats each month out of ignorance with regards to their wasteful practices. SMART encourages factories to save money, energy, water, and waste by implementing environmentally friendly measures.

More specifically, SMART also invites factories to produce their own energy sustainably using solar photovoltaic systems. With ample sunshine enjoyed most of the year and large roof spaces, Myanmar garment factories have all the assets required for a sustainable and profitable investment in renewable solar energy—especially handy when the cost of electricity is constantly increasing.

About the organization

SMART Textile & Garments is funded by the European Union and co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. It aims at improving working conditions, promoting labor and environmental standards, and reducing labor rights abuses in the garment industry.

There are more than 600 garment factories in Myanmar. Most of them are located in Yangon industrial zones, and only approximately 1% of these local or international factories have effective environmental policies and measures in place.

Photo: Boris Le Montagner – SMART

Most factories produce their own energy because electricity from the grid is both unreliable and very expensive. In most cases, charcoal and fuel wood is used, but renewable energy production is also an option. SMART offers on-site consultancy and coaching programs to develop sustainable consumption and production in the garment sector.

Photo: Boris Le Montagner – SMART

As of mid-2019, at least six garment factories in Myanmar have installed solar photovoltaic systems for combined peak generation capacity of approx. 500 kW. Five other garment factories are known to have implemented rainwater harvesting systems. A handful of factories have installed biomass boilers.

Photo: Jacob Clere – SMART