Bangladesh now global leader with 178 green factories
Business Desk :
Bangladesh has further strengthened its position as the global leader in safe and green readymade garment (RMG) factory units with two more units obtaining US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) certificates.
According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the country’s apparel sector currently has 178 Leed-certified factories. Industry insiders said that 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%, water consumption by more than 30% and carbon dioxide emissions, further ensuring environmental safety, said 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 RMG sector of Bangladesh has consolidated its position in green manufacturing units with 58 in the platinum category, 106 in gold, 10 in silver and another four Leed-certified factory buildings as of November 17, 2022.
Bangladesh Export Import Company (Beximco) Ltd, located at Beximco Industrial Park at Gazipur, obtained a platinum certificate from the USGBC with a score of 85 on Thursday.
Moreover, Narayanganj-based Barnali Collections Limited obtained a gold certificate with a score of 64, said a BGMEA official.
According to the RMG industry’s trade body, another 550 factories are in pipeline or registered to get USGBC’s Leed certification.
So far in 2022, 13 factories have been certified which is also a record. 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 up with EU green deals and due diligence directives, stated 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. While talking with this reporter, Mohiuddin Rubel, director of the BGMEA, said that it is indeed good news.
“So far in 2022, 13 factories have been certified in this year which is also a record,” he added, saying that the main thing is to brand Bangladesh. He also said that many of these news would have remained unknown earlier, now the country’s media is helping in this branding.
“In the global economic turmoil, our orders are decreasing by 20%-30%, but in this situation, when buyers see the news regarding new factories getting Leed certificates, their confidence automatically boosts,” he added.
Bangladesh is leading the way in terms of compliance, safe factories, sustainable and eco-friendly manufacturing, so, there is no substitute for Leed certification to brand it, he added. “The operational costs will be reduced in the long term, currently we are suffering from the energy crisis, however, green factories may also give support there,” he added. They’ll be continuing to strengthen their position in the future, he added, saying that they are getting more focus than competitors due to this and they believe buyers are evaluating this positioning and will continue to do so in the future. 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.
