Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
Bangladesh apparel industry has grabbed global spotlight again steadily transforming its manufacturing units into green factories, meaning pollution free environment friendly factories.
So far, 67 local garment factories have received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), for environmentally friendly actions taken during construction of the factories and their operations. Seven of them have ranked among the top 10 on a list of the world’s 25 most environment-friendly factories for ensuring maximum environmental safety of its workplaces.
Another 280 garment factories in Bangladesh would get the LEED certification soon, according to the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA).
“Local garment sector is rapidly transforming its production units into eco factories in line
with the growing global demand for environment-friendly RMG products,” BGMEA president M Siddiqur Rahman told The New Nation on Friday.
He said the concept of a “green eco factory” has been introduced in the country’s RMG sector as part of nascent efforts to improve working conditions at factories with maximum eco-friendly facilities for workers.
Until recently, Bangladesh’s garment sector was highly criticised by international community for poor working conditions and environmental safety.
“Local apparel industry came under global spotlight following Tazreen Fashions and Rana Plaza factory disasters. These twin incidents severely tarnished image of the industry forcing the government to take factory up-gradation process as per the suggestions of Accord and Alliance,” said M Siddiqur Rahman, adding, “So far, 90 per cent of the remediation works under the Accord and the Alliance have been completed, and other remediation works will be completed soon.”
“By this time, we’re also upgrading standards of workplace environment introducing green concept in the factories to become the part of global environment-friendly supply chain. The recent achievement of Bangladeshi garment factories has brought the RMG sector in global spotlight again rectifying its distorted image,” he said.
“Local manufactures are under pressure for building eco factory to meet the growing demand of environment-friendly products in the international market. The process will preserve the environment from pollution and encourage international buyers to place more work orders. This will also help to achieve the garments export target of US$50 billion by 2021,” said BGMEA’s senior vice-president Faruque Hassan.
He said apparel entrepreneurs are turning their factories into green ones to keep pace with the green revolution around the world as well as restore the confidence of global buyers in Bangladeshi products.
“The initiative will help ensure long-term sustainability of the industry and higher export growth in future,” he added.
Bangladesh apparel industry has grabbed global spotlight again steadily transforming its manufacturing units into green factories, meaning pollution free environment friendly factories.
So far, 67 local garment factories have received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), for environmentally friendly actions taken during construction of the factories and their operations. Seven of them have ranked among the top 10 on a list of the world’s 25 most environment-friendly factories for ensuring maximum environmental safety of its workplaces.
Another 280 garment factories in Bangladesh would get the LEED certification soon, according to the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA).
“Local garment sector is rapidly transforming its production units into eco factories in line
with the growing global demand for environment-friendly RMG products,” BGMEA president M Siddiqur Rahman told The New Nation on Friday.
He said the concept of a “green eco factory” has been introduced in the country’s RMG sector as part of nascent efforts to improve working conditions at factories with maximum eco-friendly facilities for workers.
Until recently, Bangladesh’s garment sector was highly criticised by international community for poor working conditions and environmental safety.
“Local apparel industry came under global spotlight following Tazreen Fashions and Rana Plaza factory disasters. These twin incidents severely tarnished image of the industry forcing the government to take factory up-gradation process as per the suggestions of Accord and Alliance,” said M Siddiqur Rahman, adding, “So far, 90 per cent of the remediation works under the Accord and the Alliance have been completed, and other remediation works will be completed soon.”
“By this time, we’re also upgrading standards of workplace environment introducing green concept in the factories to become the part of global environment-friendly supply chain. The recent achievement of Bangladeshi garment factories has brought the RMG sector in global spotlight again rectifying its distorted image,” he said.
“Local manufactures are under pressure for building eco factory to meet the growing demand of environment-friendly products in the international market. The process will preserve the environment from pollution and encourage international buyers to place more work orders. This will also help to achieve the garments export target of US$50 billion by 2021,” said BGMEA’s senior vice-president Faruque Hassan.
He said apparel entrepreneurs are turning their factories into green ones to keep pace with the green revolution around the world as well as restore the confidence of global buyers in Bangladeshi products.
“The initiative will help ensure long-term sustainability of the industry and higher export growth in future,” he added.
