8 May 2012: The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) has published an update on a successful project it is funding together with Azure International to improve energy efficiency in 13 Chinese textile factories.

The project intends to increase capacity to implement energy efficiency improvements and overcome barriers to financing such improvements due to a lack of baseline data for investments. To that effect, a partnership is being built with four leading international apparel brands (Adidas, GAP, H&M and Levi Strauss) to increase their suppliers’ energy savings. The aim is to then start similar projects throughout supply chains in China.

The project was first presented during an Opening Summit in September 2011 in Shanghai, which included speakers from participating brands, factories and the International Finance Corporation (IFC,) as well as several energy efficiency experts. Azure International also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) to participate in REEEP-funded projects aimed at improving the energy and water efficiency of Chinese textile factories. A series of three workshops was organized in September, October and December 2011, which focused on: energy management systems, data collection, management and monitoring; and forthcoming Chinese energy policies and best practices in energy efficiency for the textile industry. In March 2012, a two day training session was also organized.

As a result of these initiatives, several factories have already implemented some energy efficiency improvements and submitted preliminary energy and water data for 2010 as the baseline to measuring improvements. Two major brands have also indicated support for this kind of direct capacity building as a model for similar programmes in their supply chains. [REEEP Press Release]