Jordan Daily – Classic Fashion, the largest garment manufacturers in Jordan, marked World Environment Day 2025 with a company-wide event focused on tackling plastic pollution. With this year’s global theme centered on plastic, company leaders, industry stakeholders, and sustainability advocates called for urgent and practical actions to reduce plastic use across operations and communities.
“Thanks for joining us today as we celebrate the World Environment Day 2025. This year, the theme is with plastic,” said Mr. Nandhagopal, Assistant Manager – Sustainability. “So let’s take this opportunity to understand how the plastic is impacting day-to-day life and what can we do to make a difference.”
Nandhagopal reminded attendees that World Environment Day began in 1972 and is now observed in over 150 countries. “It brings together governments, businesses, communities and individuals to take action on urgent environmental issues,” he said. “Most plastics are non-biodegradable… So the goal of this year is to reach how we use, manage and dispose of plastic.”
Jayprakash Nair, Chief Administrative Officer, emphasized the role of individual responsibility. “How we can avoid these plastic bags? We can avoid the plastic bags. Don’t throw it in the road. So these kind of messages we should give to all the colleagues, our kids, our parents,” he said.
He added, “The environment is not only the plastic wastage. So every one of us, plant a tree. Today our world is suffering with oxygen shortage… from your limited sources save the world.”
From the industrial perspective, Ihab Qadri, Board Member of the Jordan Chamber of Industry and representative of the Leather and Garment Industries Sector, emphasized the strategic importance of the textile industry. “The textile sector today stands as one of the key pillars of the Jordanian economy… with over 95,000 workers (more than 68% of whom are women),” he said.
“With growing global attention on reducing environmental footprints, the importance of transitioning to sustainable industrial practices and embracing circular economy principles in this vital sector becomes even more pronounced,” Qadri added. “Such efforts will ultimately enhance product quality and boost the sector’s competitiveness… aligned with the exporting market’s requirements for Sustainability.”
Ragavan Samuel, General Manager of People & Culture for the classic group, offered a sobering reality check. “Every year we talk about it, celebrate it… If we do an inch towards reduction of plastic,” he said. “Have you taken any step towards it? That is what kind of question, I wanted to put across to you.”
“I just give an example to you. There would be more plastic than fish in the ocean in 2050,” he added. “Do you think it is not shocking us? … The globes what we make out of plastic. How ironical it would be?”
Concluding the event, Ann Theresa of Classic Fashion announced a major shift: “Starting today, Classic Fashion will begin banning single-use plastic in our supermarkets, starting right here, with Phase 5,” she said. “In its place, we introduce something simple, strong, and sustainable: the Classic Fabric Bag.”
The day also recognized employees’ creative contributions through drawing, art, and article-writing competitions – reflecting the company’s commitment to combining awareness with action.
