Global Park shines as a model for ecological responsiveness

With more and more companies seeking ways to be more environmentally friendly, businesses globally are applying green processes at the workplace to create a healthy environment for employees and recognise the role that businesses play in leading the way for social change.

Global park, a Sri Lanka based logistics centre and ‘hub’ fully bonded with state of the art finishing facilities to the apparel industry is an organisation that has always been one to adopt to global trends that benefits both customer and their business. They recently took the initiative to be the first green warehouse to commence operations in Sri Lanka.

Speaking of this venture, Global Park General Manager Priyanka Dissanayake stated, “Environmental responsibility is becoming a primary concern for business planners. As businesses move to reduce their impact on the environment, they can at the same time increase their operational efficiency and reduce costs. Warehouses are an essential component of any business supply chain and are frequently busy with inbound and outbound deliveries. Therefore we believe that the first and most important reason to go green is to protect the environment. You won’t be doing any business if there’s no planet to do your business on. Going Green means not only assisting our environment to recover from industrial damage (and prevent further damage), but also helping to recover natural resources.”

He also explained that consumers and companies are also increasingly showing their environmental awareness by choosing to deal with responsible companies, so taking a green stance gives one both credibility and a competitive advantage. It also improves efficiency and lowers operating costs which can potentially save hundreds or thousands per year. In addition, in this day and age, younger people especially are looking for businesses which have a green stamp on them.

“These potential employees who spend long hours at work, want to observe eco-friendly practices .Therefore it’s more than a trend – it’s a lifestyle. These are some of the key reasons we believe that a green warehouse will benefit not only the environment but customers and employees at large,” he added.

Dissanayake pointed out that Global Park’s green warehouse has taken steps to reduce the consumption of energy by installing energy saving lighting, heating and ventilation that significantly reduces energy bills. The warehouse has also been built in a manner that can also use natural lighting as much as possible, thereby will reduce their carbon footprint.

An energy reduction of 60 per cent was achieved in the area of lighting, through use of windows and fluorescent lamp. By installing skylights and clerestory windows within the warehouse facility, it allows them to use natural light as a source of interior illumination.

Day lighting harnesses the power of the sun, lowers electricity usage and carbon dioxide emissions, and improves indoor environmental quality for warehouse personnel. Motion sensors and timers are placed in key areas of the warehouse to trigger lights to turn on only when people are working there. White thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing is used to reduce the building’s load on its cooling system.

Dissanayake also added that all the paints, adhesives, sealants and coatings used were chosen with an eye to their emission levels of volatile organic compounds. Recycled and locally sourced materials have been used as much as possible for the interior remodelling. Global; park has also used.

“Most aspects of doing greener business in the supply chain truly are related to greater productivity, which is always a goal of supply-chain management,” says Dissanayake adding, “We strongly believe that business policies that demonstrate a respect for their environmental impact serve to bolster consumer confidence and loyalty. Green warehouses therefore are an essential component of green business policy. At this point of the journey, focusing on sustainability has much to offer us all and going green is going to be an enduring part of how we all do business in the future.”