AGI Denim is First Textile Firm with End-to-End LEED Gold Certification
Pakistan-based denim manufacturer AGI Denim has reached a new sustainability milestone. The producer has become the first denim manufacturer and textile company globally to have LEED Gold certification for all operations from spinning to finished garment.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is U.S. Green Building Council’s certification that looks at buildings’ environmental performance. GBCI evaluates aspects including energy use, water efficiency, waste and materials, and gives building projects points that determine the level of certification.
Factories typically use more energy than other structures like homes or offices, making it more of a challenge for manufacturers to achieve LEED status. AGI’s buildings were designed and constructed with sustainability in mind. To improve energy use, about 25 percent of AGI’s energy needs are met with solar panels, and efficient lighting, heating and air conditioning reduce its energy consumption. Energy efficiency is also achieved through automation, including automated fabric cutting and robotic sprayers.
Water usage has been reduced, and water recycling further lowers the water impact of the facilities. Other environmentally friendly details include lower impact building materials and waste management.
AGI Denim initially received LEED certification for its garment production units in 2016, and its spinning mill became LEED certified in 2021. Now, it has added LEED certification for its fabric unit, and the certification covers its entire vertical operation, which has an annual capacity of 55 million yards of fabric and 25 million garments.
“Becoming end-to-end LEED Certified during these difficult times has been a ray of hope for us,” said Hasan Javed, executive director of AGI Denim. “Each milestone like this brings us one step closer to our vision of being fully responsible and manufacturing with purpose. We are focused on tangible advances to reach our goal of becoming net zero by 2040, which will help bring about change for the better. This certification shows our commitment to circularity and how we will never settle for anything short of the best approaches for our people and the planet.”
This is yet another first for AGI Denim. It previously became the first B Corp certified company in Pakistan, a distinction that reflects its efforts in both social and environmental responsibility.
Lenzing is proud to count AGI Denim among our mill partners, and we’re eager to see what is next for the manufacturer in its sustainability journey.