| One popular misconception by consumers is that | | | | addition to the focus on wastes, Bibette has looked |
| eco-friendly garments tend to look dull and drab as | | | | at the management of their energy sources. The |
| they are only available in plain fabrics and neutral | | | | boiler is regularly serviced and adjusted by outside |
| colours. This is not true at all. | | | | consultants to ensure that it is well maintained and |
| Provided the correct dyes and processes are used, | | | | able to run at maximum efficiency. There is also an |
| environmentally friendly garments can be produced in | | | | ongoing review of electricity usage to look at |
| a wide range of attractive colours and fabrics. "The | | | | potential savings in energy. Educational posters for |
| current trend identified by the retail industry is | | | | staff are all over the factory. These cover a range |
| towards natural fibres and natural looking garments. | | | | of useful information for employees including |
| This reinforces the idea that we will have an | | | | environmental information such as the Western Cape |
| increased demand for eco-friendly garments in the | | | | campaign for water saving. This involvement of staff |
| future." The increased awareness of environmental | | | | will greatly improve the buy-in to the environmental |
| concerns has led to many environmental | | | | management process. Environmental improvements |
| improvements within the business. Throughout | | | | within a factory can produce multiple benefits. On top |
| Bibette, all used paper is separated and collected for | | | | of the initial attraction of the economic advantages |
| recycling. Operations Director, Rodney Stellenboom | | | | of reduced resource use, reduced wastage and |
| emphasizes this by describing some of the ongoing | | | | ensuing cost savings, other benefits include a |
| initiatives in the factory for improving Bibette's | | | | reduction in risk, improved employee morale, better |
| environmental performance. "We have investigated | | | | publicity and relationship with the community and |
| our waste and are now separating waste in order to | | | | opportunities to obtain a marketing advantage. |
| take advantage of opportunities to reuse or recycle | | | | Bibette, together with its suppliers Gregory Knitting |
| waste products. In addition to the paper, all plastic is | | | | Mills and Frame Spinning, is able to create a wide |
| recycled, fabric waste is sold for reuse and all clothes | | | | range of garments that meet exacting international |
| hangars used internally are reused," says Stellenboom. | | | | standards for "Eco-friendliness". South Africans can be |
| Good environmental management is evident | | | | proud that local companies are able to compete with, |
| throughout the production process at Bibette. | | | | and meet or beat the global standards for textile |
| Excellent standards of housekeeping and care for all | | | | products. |
| materials and products can be observed at the plant. | | | | A composite material is produced by using polyester |
| For example, on the cutting floor, state of the art | | | | textile wastes as reinforcement material and mainly |
| machinery is programmed to minimize fabric wastage | | | | urea formaldehyde as matrix material. This composite |
| when cutting. | | | | is used in banks, tables, shelves, and pots. The |
| Over 80 percent of production is cut using this | | | | bending strength and absorption properties of the |
| efficient machinery. Good organization, tidiness and | | | | textile reinforced composite are investigated and |
| correct procedures are essential for waste reduction | | | | compared with fibre board and medium density fibre |
| and these basics are practiced throughout the | | | | board which are alternative materials for the same |
| company. Since efforts to segregate and recycle | | | | end-uses. The polyester wastes such as, yarns, |
| waste streams have been made, overall waste | | | | woven, and knitted fabrics cut at random dimensions |
| volumes going to landfill has drastically reduced. | | | | are used as reinforcement material. Matrix material is |
| Whereas, previously, loads of general wastes were | | | | prepared by mixing urea formaldehyde resin, |
| removed from the factory several times a day, now | | | | ammonium sulphate, and flour in a weight ratio of |
| the new compactor needs emptying approximately | | | | 100:5:10 consecutively. The bending strength of the |
| once a week. This has created savings in costs of | | | | textile reinforced composite is less than the fibre |
| waste disposal When waste items cannot be reused | | | | board and the medium density fibre board, but it |
| or recycled, they are disposed of in the best manner | | | | absorbs less water. It seems that the properties of |
| for the environment. For example, old light tubes are | | | | the textile reinforced composite can be improved by |
| crushed in the correct drum crusher and then | | | | considering the test results obtained. |
| disposed of by a permitted Waste Contractor. In | | | | |