PrimeAsia leading the way in environmental stewardship

The LWG was formed as collaboration between footwear brands and tanneries to assess the compliance and environmental performance of tanners and to promote sustainable and appropriate environmental business practices within the footwear and leather industry. The recent reaccredidation of the PrimeAsia tanneries confirms their ongoing commitment to full environmental transparency throughout PrimeAsia's global facilities. Today, all three of PrimeAsia's tanneries have achieved either gold or silver status from the LWG. PrimeAsia is very pleased that PrimeAsia China now joins PrimeAsia Vietnam in attaining gold status and embracing the process of best practice in the footwear and tanning industries for environmental responsibility and management.

The value of the protocol has been recognised by PrimeAsia from its inception, both as a means of demonstrating their environmental credentials to customers and the consumer, and as a tool to further promote environmental responsibility and ongoing improvement initiatives. The ability for PrimeAsia to reach gold in the LWG was made possible by the dedication and foresight of the management team's commitment to the environment. From PrimeAsia China and PrimeAsia Vietnam inception, both were engineered and designed to maximise natural light and the flow of air through its buildings to reduce energy consumption as well as provide many other innovative design features that enhance efficiencies and reduce waste. PrimeAsia Vietnam has moved forward in its energy conservation commitment and has installed the largest solar farm in the footwear and leather industry. This state of the art energy source will provide one hundred percent of the tannery's hot water needs for manufacturing. The system will become operational in September, 2009. Another highlight of the PrimeAsia environmental efficiencies programs is the recognition that PrimeAsia gives to water as a resource. PrimeAsia is currently recycling over 44% of its total fresh water usage through various programs in all three of its global tanneries.

PrimeAsia Corporation says that these accomplishments offer ‘peace of mind' to its customers in a time of ever changing environmental regulations and requirements. This commitment to the environment and alternative energy advances PrimeAsia's corporate vision to be the world-class supplier of innovative quality leathers, committed to long-term partnerships with customers, employees, community, environment and suppliers.