Earlier this month, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) was awarded the prestigious “USGBC Leadership Award” by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for eorts shown to make the garment sector in Bangladesh greener and more environmentally-friendly.
BGMEA is the first organization in the apparel world to receive this award, and it is a culmination of years of pro-active initiatives that the RMG sector in the country has shown, and the RMG sector as a whole deserves credit for recognizing that going green is not only what the future of this planet demands, but also good for business.
This is the sort of forward-thinking planning that the entirety of Bangladesh requires, as it looks to fulfil its economic ambitions; while setting up plants that recycle, or making use of more renewable sources of energy and sourcing, are expensive investments initially, they pay dividends in the long run, and ought to be the approach that all business owners in the country adopt.
However, it is important to note here that, as Bangladesh is doing its part in reducing emissions in its RMG sector and adopting a more climate-friendly approach, the international brands and buyers -- and the developed world in general -- must acknowledge this effort and hold up their end as well.
Given Bangladesh’s minimal carbon footprint in comparison to developed nations, it is imperative that the richer nations pledge to support the ongoing initiatives in Bangladesh to go green. While it is good to see that the Green Climate Fund approved a $250 million loan program for projects to make garment factories in Bangladesh more energy efficient, we hope that these are not empty promises, and that this money indeed comes to Bangladesh.
In addition, fair pricing for the RMG owners must also be ensured. Time and time again, RMG owners in the country have rightfully brought to attention the fact that their efforts at creating a safer, more inclusive, and better sector is not reflected in the prices offered to Bangladesh.
Moving forward, this must change. Adopting a shift from fossil fuels and employing greener initiatives is the future, but Bangladesh has earned the right to assistance from the developed world in ensuring that this happens
