BD RMG earning global acclamation: BGMEA
Staff Reporter :
World’s perception about the local apparel industry has changed significantly as Bangladesh is no more known as a producer of basic items and workplace hazards, according to a BGMEA statement.
Changing the perception, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has laid a strong foundation in workplace safety, transparency and developing an ecosystem to support growth, said the statement issued on Sunday.
Among the other initiatives, the apparel industry reached the landmark of 200 LEED certified factories by USGBC last month and the momentum continues as the number keeps growing as two more factories are certified by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) on Sunday.
This takes total number of LEED factories to 202 of which 73 earned the prestigious Platinum rating, 115 Gold and 10 are silver rating and 500 more factories are in the pipeline to get the certification as its happening gradually, the statement added.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said, “Needless to mention that Bangladesh’s RMG industry has made all-out efforts with commitment and determination to become sustainable in every respect, especially in the workplace safety, workers wellbeing and environmental areas.”
“The unparalleled green transformation is a testament of our visionary entrepreneurship showing resilience, flexibility, mindset toward positive changes and capability to adapt.
This international recognition not only highlights our dedication, but also showcases our country’s potential as a leader in sustainable manufacturing practices,” he added.
Besides, the association has set up a Center for Innovation, Center for Efficiency and Center for OSH to foster innovation in every segment of the trade.
It also established the Textile Technology Business Center (TTBC), an offspring of the Partnership for Cleaner Textile (PaCT) project that serves as a knowledge hub on resource efficiency, and business-to-business linkages with local and international technology suppliers.
It helps the factories decarbonise and adopt resource efficiency measures to reduce climate footprint, the statement said.
The BGMEA also established Responsible Business Hub Unit to strengthen the capacities of the manufacturers to adapt and comply with the globally emerging due diligence, it added.
Faruque also said that they are establishing a digital data platform to baseline and monitor improvements of ESG practices at factories, and they are now promoting circularity.
