Circularity in apparel industry crucial to sustainability: Experts
Staff Reporter :
Experts have called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders for transition to a circular economy in the country’s apparel industry as the circular economy presents a clear pathway toward achieving greater environmental sustainability while fostering economic growth.
Policymakers will have to facilitate the creation of a favorable regulatory environment that promotes sustainability, encourages local innovation, and attracts international expertise to the country’s circular apparel industry, they added.
The experts came up with the observations while speaking at a seminar on “SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains (SWITCH2CE) Project” organised by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Commerce Ministry at a city hotel on Tuesday.
In the backdrop of Bangladesh’s remarkable economic growth, positioning it as the world’s second-largest garment exporter and a significant GDP contributor, environmental concerns associated with textile waste have emerged as a critical challenge.
Addressing this, the global SWITCH2CE project, co-funded by the European Union and the government of Finland, is poised to pioneer circular strategies across textiles, plastic packaging, and ICT & Electronics value chains.
UNIDO collaborates with key partners like Chatham House, Circle Economy, and the European Investment Bank to drive this global initiative.
In Bangladesh, the project works with local and international partners from the private sector, think-tanks, and the government, to support the circular transition in the textiles and garments industry.
Speaking at the project launching ceremony, Textile and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi said, “The SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains project’s outcomes will enable the circular economy transition of textile industry in Bangladesh by creating significant trade and social impacts for the country.”
Expressing his confidence in the circular transition, Commerce Ministry Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh said, “Circularity in the garment sector will enhance our export along with the branding image of Bangladesh.”
He also emphasised the role of all the stakeholders that are showing a strong commitment to take forward the industry to be compliant with international rules and norms.
On behalf of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh, Dr Bernd SPANIER, Chargé d’Affaires, pointed out that “Bangladesh is now a world leader in green factories – there is no reason why it could not become a world leader in circularity, too.”
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan stated that they have realigned priorities to continuously deliver better solutions.
“We have recently introduced a new corporate logo representing nine commitments, with “Circularity” being one of them.
Our goal is to conserve the natural eco-system through an economic shift from a linear to a circular system.
This is not just a vision. It’s a commitment to drive change as we have an opportunity to lead this change,” he added.
Zaki Uz Zaman, Country Representative of the UNIDO, gave the welcome speech. Mark Draeck, chief technical advisor on SWITCH2 Circular of the UNIDO, made a presentation on SWITCH2CE strategies for Textile value chain in Bangladesh.
A panel discussion on “The way ahead for Switch to Circular Economy in Bangladesh Textile and Garments Sector,” was also held at the event.
Distinguished panelists included Gagan Bansal, Head of Material Innovation and Strategy of H&M, Barrister Vidiya Amrit Khan, Director of the BGMEA, and Hilde Van Duijn, Head of Global Value Chain of Circle Economy. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr M Masrur Reaz, CEO of Policy Exchange.
Speakers at a panel discussion stressed the need for collaborative approach of the industry stakeholders, innovative business model, and financial support mechanism to foster a circular industrial ecosystem in order to drive transition of Bangladesh’s RMG industry to circular economy.
