The garment industry plans to cut energy consumption by one-third next year and bring down its electricity bill to Bt3.6 billion per year.

"The plan is drawn not only to reduce global warming but also to meet customers' carbon-footprint requirements," Dej Pathanasethapong, president of the Thai Garment Manufacturers Association, said yesterday.

To celebrate its 36th anniversary, the TGMA yesterday launched a special T-shirt made with a bamboo and synthetic fibre fabric. The association continues to encourage manufacturers to focus more on such innovative technology, especially for natural fibres. Banana fibre is a promising area for research and development to be used in the industry.

BAMBOO T-SHIRT

The bamboo-fibre T-shirt is part of the "Garment Manufacturers Energy Saving Campaign" to encourage members to conserve energy.

"Consumer's lifestyles are rapidly changing and energy consumption is increasing so we have to think of ways to ensure energy saving in our plants," Dej said.

The industry has to think of every way that it can help offset the world's growing economy.

Natural-mixed-fibre clothing for one will reduce carbon emissions from garments, as they are biodegradable.

Kartchai Jamkajornkeiat, an adviser to the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under royal patronage, said garment manufacturers should practise energy management by encouraging their employees to adopt energy-saving habits. That will also ensure buyers that Thai products are concerned about carbon emissions.

Kartchai, who was a managing director of Apparel Avenue, a leading garment manufacturer and exporter, said customers, particularly the European Union, were now requiring their suppliers to support carbon-footprint reduction.

"The requirement is also forcing Thai manufacturers to be more concerned about that and they have to create corporate social responsibility activities for their products," he said.

The TGMA's campaign will also nudge yarn producers into creating more fibres that reduce energy use, he said.