A Bangladeshi readymade garment factory is now the global leader as a Leed-certified green factory with a score of 104 -- the highest ever score in the industry category project in the world.
The Mymensingh-based Green Textile Limited's unit-4 factory obtain a leadership in energy and environmental design (Leed) certificate in the platinum category from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) on February 21 earlier this year, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
Currently, the local RMG sector has consolidated its position in green manufacturing units with 65 in the platinum category, 110 in gold, 10 in silver, and another 4 Leed-certified factory buildings.
Among the top 10 Leed-certified factory units of the world, nine are from Bangladesh and among the top 100, 52 are in Bangladesh.
Due to the investments in the environmentally friendly manufacturing facilities of the local manufacturers, so far 189 factories in the country's garment industry presently have the Leed certification.
Moreover, an additional 550 factories are either registered or in the pipeline for USGBC's Leed certification, reported the apex body of the apparel sector.
So far, six factory units have already achieved Leed certification in 2023 and in 2022, a total of 30 factory units received Leed certification, the highest in a year.
The factory units of Bangladesh have been obtaining the Leed certificate since 2001.
The USGBC credits factory units based on several criteria including transformation performance, energy, water, and waste management and the best performers are rated with platinum, followed by gold and silver.
These criteria help green factories significantly to reduce operational costs over time even though they may initially cost more to set up, according to industry insiders.
These factories also provide a safe working environment for employees.
Experts said that Bangladesh's garment industry is now poised to take the lead globally by addressing mounting issues of sustainability, climate change, groundwater depletion, and efficiency.
The growing number of green apparel factories will give Bangladesh a vantage ground to cope with EU green deals and due diligence directives stated by both the experts and the businesses.
Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Mohiuddin Rubel, director of BGMEA, said that although the highest number of green factories is in Bangladesh, the factory with the highest score was not in Bangladesh until now.
The good news is that GTL in Bangladesh is now the highest scoring green factory with a score of 104, which is a world record, overtaking a factory in Indonesia, he also said.
He also said that the green factory is defined with a score of 110 in various categories, scoring 104 is rare and proud for Bangladesh.
“We want this position to be ours, may more factories to come with a score of 105, 106 or more,” he added.
At this time despite worrying about orders and exports, manufacturers are continuously branding the country through Leed-certified factories.
“Moreover, there are things like a safe workplace and employers' safety which is swelling our strength. Amid the global turbulent economic situation, these brandings are serving us to cope with the losses as we are better positioned than our competitors,” Rubel further said.
He also said that the entrepreneurs are working determinedly to continue this branding which made them a better source to the buyers and the government also helping.
“The government should also provide policy supports to motivate more factories,” he added.
According to apparel manufacturers, the move towards green factory buildings helped regain Bangladesh's image after the Rana Plaza tragedy, which claimed 1,134 lives and left more than 2,000 injured in 2013.