LEED certification boosts buyers’ confidence

Staff Reporter :
The buyers’ confidence towards Bangladeshi apparel will be enhanced significantly with the increased number of LEED-certified factories, the entrepreneurs said.
It will also strengthen further the country’s position as the global leader in safe and green readymade garment (RMG) factories, they added.
Three more apparel units have obtained US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificates in the ‘Platinum’ category raising the total number of environment-friendly establishments in the sector to 176.
These green factories help dramatically save operational expenses over time even though they may initially cost more to set up.
Green factories are expected to help reduce energy use by 40 per cent, water consumption by more than 30 per cent and carbon dioxide emissions, further ensuring environmental safety, according to the BGMEA.
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.
The latest, C.A Knitwear Limited, Silken Sewing Ltd and Sultana Sweaters Ltd received platinum ratings, according to Mohiuddin Rubel, Director of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Saturday.
“The recognitions would boost our branding amid post-Covid recovery and global economic recession and
increase buyers’ confidence towards us,” Rubel said.
Bangladesh is the global leader having the highest number of green garment buildings, where 57 are platinum rated, 105 gold rated, 10 silver, and four have no rating. Dozens more units are in the process of achieving LEED certification.
The country has been receiving the certificate since 2001.
The council honours factories based on several criteria – transformation performance, energy, water, waste management. The best performers are rated with platinum, followed by gold and silver.
Fazle Ehsan Shamim, Vice-President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said, “The country’s image is improving through the increasing number of green factories as well as reducing negative impact on the environment.”
“The cost of making a green factory is increasing. But, the investors are not getting fair product price from the buyers. Buyers should take this into consideration,” he added.