Bangladesh's readymade garment (RMG) industry has once again touched a new milestone in global recognition.
Recently, three more garment and related industries have achieved the internationally recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) certification.
As a result, the number of Leed-certified RMG factories in the country has increased to 287. Of these, 124 have received platinum and 144 have received gold ratings.
Most importantly, Bangladesh now has 53 factories among the 100 Leed-certified factories with the highest scores in the world.
This is seen as a major international recognition for Bangladesh in terms of eco-friendly industrialization, energy saving and sustainable production.
Industry stakeholders say that Bangladesh, once known as a country producing low-cost garments, is now gradually strengthening its position as a "global hub for green and sustainable garment industry".
The results of major investments in safe working environments, eco-friendly infrastructure, energy efficiency and water management are now visible.
Of the three companies that recently received Leed certification, two are located in Gazipur and one in Savar. All three have been recognized in the Platinum category.
Big Boss Corporation Limited: Located in Aptech Industrial Park in Gazipur, this company has received the Platinum certificate by scoring 90 points in the ‘Leed BD+C: Warehouses and Distribution Centers v4’ rating system. The company is said to have achieved the high score due to its state-of-the-art warehouse management, energy efficiency and eco-friendly infrastructure.
Union Label & Accessories Ltd: This factory, a subsidiary of the Union Group, has received the Platinum certificate by scoring 85 points in the ‘Leed O+M: Existing Buildings v4.1’ rating system. It is being considered a notable example in the field of converting existing buildings into eco-friendly and energy-efficient systems.
Vertex Wear Ltd., Dress World Ltd. And Neo Fashion Ltd: This joint industrial complex located in Tetuljhora, Savar, has received the Platinum certificate by scoring 81 points in the ‘Leed BD+C: New Construction v4’ rating system. The company achieved this recognition due to its eco-friendly construction style, use of natural light and air, and modern waste management.
The Leed certificate is mainly issued by the US-based US Green Building Council.
This certificate is given based on how environmentally friendly, energy efficient, efficient in water management, and safe in the working environment a factory is.
Experts say that currently, big brands in Europe and America are giving the most importance to environmentally friendly production. As a result, the increase in the number of green factories means that Bangladesh’s competitiveness in the international market will increase further.
In the global market, buyers now do not just want products at low prices; they want to know how much damage was done to the environment during the production of that product, how safe the workers worked in the environment, and how sustainably the factory is being managed. Bangladesh has now been able to show significant progress in that area.
Industry stakeholders say that Leed certified factories use comparatively less electricity and water. At the same time, the improved working environment in these factories also increases the productivity of workers.
As a result, production costs are reduced in the long run and the confidence of international buyers increases.
Analysts believe that the expansion of green factories in the last decade has played an important role in changing the negative image that was created around the Bangladeshi garment sector, especially after the Rana Plaza accident.
Bangladesh is currently the world's second largest RMG exporter. But the country is now trying to lead not only in production, but also in sustainable industrialization.
According to industry stakeholders, the pressure from the European Union's carbon policy, environmental standards, and sustainable supply chain will increase further in the future. In that reality, green factories in Bangladesh will play a major role in retaining the export market.
Former BGMEA director Mohiuddin Rubel said that the Bangladeshi garment industry is now setting an example in the world not only in production capacity, but also in sustainable and environmentally friendly industrialization. The addition of new green factories will further enhance the country's brand image and the confidence of international buyers.
