Welcome to Business Outlook
Related Articles
With 173 green factories accredited by the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed), Bangladesh currently leads the globe in the RMG industry’s progress towards being green.
Even while they may cost more to set up initially, these green factories help save operational expenses dramatically over time.
Green factories, according to BGMEA, are expected to help reduce energy use by 40%, water consumption by more than 30%, and carbon dioxide emissions , further ensuring environmental safety.
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.
According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh’s RMG sector has taken the lead in green manufacturing with 54 in the platinum category, 105 in gold, 10 in silver and another four Leed-certified factory buildings as of September 27.
Gazipur-based Aman Tex Limited obtained the Platinum certificate from the USGBC with a score of 89 and Dhaka-based Ayesha Fashion Limited obtained the Gold certificate with a score of 64, said the BGMEA.
Moreover, 42 industrial units out of the world’s top 100 Leed-certified industrial units are in Bangladesh.
According to the BGMEA, another 550 factories are in pipeline or registered to get USGBC’s Leed certification.
Insiders said that by addressing mounting issues of sustainability, climate change, groundwater depletion and efficiency Bangladesh’s garment industry is now poised to take the lead globally.
BGMEA officials described Bangladesh as a “green field” for investment in the developing garment sector and 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 Bangladesh is the leader in this.
“Once people questioned investing in a Leed-certified factory but today we can see fruits of the labor by visionary entrepreneurs.”
He added saying that initially, green factories cost more to establish but if you think about sustainability, you have to invest here to stay competitive as there is no way to move forward by ignoring the environment.”
He added saying that nowadays, buyers are very cautious about protecting the environment.
He also said that in the future, the Leed-certified factories will not only be an option but will be mandatory, as buyers will surely try to place orders at the green factories.
“Bangladesh is doing very well in terms of green and sustainable factories and has already made significant investments which will answer the questions that will arise about eco-friendly production in the future,” he added.
The BGMEA has always encouraged entrepreneurs in this regard and Bangladesh is gradually moving towards increasing efficiency and producing high-end products.
“Leed-certified factories must be ahead of the rest to implement these. The initial investment in this factory may be high, but will save costs in the long run significantly,” he added.
Green Industrialization is one of BGMEA’s many initiatives to gain sustainability as well as to further improve the image of the sector to buyers.
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.
(DT)
