
01 Nov suPPPort partners with WeVoTex to qualify terry towel factory in Bangladesh
suPPPort has recently embarked on its latest develoPPP.de project in collaboration with WeVoTex, a Dutch based sourcing agency, specialised in the production and sales of home textiles such as bathroom and bed linen. Founded in the 1920s, WeVoTex has been long synonymous in the production of high-quality terry products in Netherlands. Through the course of this develoPPP.de project, WeVoTex will qualify its Bangladeshi supplier, who covers all production steps from weaving, dyeing and finishing to manufacturing. The qualification will focus on social (BSCI) and environmental (ISO14001) standards aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and resource efficiency. The kick-off meeting was held late October of 2018 at the terry towel factory’s premise, situated in the BISIC Industrial area of Feni, Bangladesh, to mark the first step to realizing this 2- year long project. Alongside suPPPort, WeVoTex is also partnered with BTTLMEA (Bangladesh Terry Towel and Linen Manufacturers & Exporters Association), Textile University of Chittagong and the local NGO, Ella Pad. The BTTLMEA is the apex body for the terry towel industry in Bangladesh and through interaction with its members, WeVoTex will be able to generate awareness regarding social and environmental standards in the industry. suPPPort will be responsible for the implementation of social and environmental standards and resource optimization at the factory and will also engage in developing special lectures for the education partner and conducting workshops for the association. With a focus on women empowerment, Ella Pad will conduct trainings for female workers at the factory on hygiene and sanitation and teach them how to upcycle textile pre-consumer waste into sanitary napkins. The napkins will then be produced from the factory’s textile production waste at the stitching department. The Textile University of Chittagong will serve as the education partner for this project and lectures designed by suPPPort will be integrated into the curriculum of the university. The students at the University will also receive the opportunity to engage in practical training sessions at the factory for a span of three months.