Bangladesh further cemented its position as the industry leader in safe and environmentally friendly readymade garment (RMG) manufacturing units with the approval of a new factory unit for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
As the first factory of 2023, Amanat Shah Fabrics Ltd of Narsingdi obtained a gold certificate from the USGBC with the LEED O+M; Existing building v4.1 rating system with a point of 68, on January 22.
According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), 184 factories in the country's garment industry presently have the Leed certification.
In 2022, 30 factory units received Leed certification, the highest in a year.
Currently, the RMG sector of Bangladesh has consolidated its position in green manufacturing units with 60 in the platinum category, 110 in gold, 10 in silver and another 4 Leed-certified factory buildings.
The trade organization for the RMG sector reports that 550 additional factories are either registered or in the pipeline for USGBC's Leed certification.
On top of the obvious safety and environmental benefits, these green factories help significantly reduce operational costs over time even though they may initially cost more to set up, according to industry insiders.
As the factory owners are required to adhere to specific criteria for the construction of the buildings, 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.
They stated that their goal is to create a sustainable, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly apparel industry and increase innovation, recycling and the circular economy.
Moreover, BGMEA pledges to the Green Button, which is a global seal of excellence in sustainability by the government of Germany.
Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Mohiuddin Rubel, director of the BGMEA, said that they started the journey with a gold certificate in the first month of the new year.
“We hope to maintain the consistency and to surpass last year's achievements this year. In the current global situation, in order to get the focus of the buyers, it is necessary to proceed in many varieties,” he added.
He also said that the production costs, fuel and energy costs have increased along with falls in orders and consumers' consumption capacity.
“We have to work to get buyers' attractions through sustainable, eco-friendly and value-added factories and products,” he said, adding that manufacturers should urge buyers to take these factors into account while placing orders and the buyers should also focus on fair pricing.
He also urged for government support for the green factories.
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.
