The story starts two years back in a grim background. Fazlul Haque, a business leader, got into odds over the Rana Plaza disaster. That episode is now about to yield a storybook ending in Bangladesh’s highest export-earning sector. The day was April 24, and Mr Haque was on board a Kathmandu-bound flight to attend an international conference. The news of the plaza collapse was already aired, with the death toll rising by the time. All on a sudden, a passenger came up to Mr Haque and asked: ‘Why you are not in Savar where many garment workers are killed in Rana Plaza collapse?’ “It was really embarrassing for me although I was not an office bearer of any garment trade bodies at the time,” recalls Mr Haque. “The man demanded that I should stay there.” Fazlul Haque, a former president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), finally skipped the man. But it made a deep impression on him. “I deeply felt that, as a garment entrepreneur, I have to do something,” he continues. “Later we decided to set up a knit factory without harming the environment and ensuring maximum comfort for the workers.” Thus comes Plummy Fashions Limited, set up in an area of 5.5 acres of land, with environment-friendly building and 50 per cent green open space. It takes only 12 months to complete the major part of the construction. With a project cost worth Tk 600 million, it gets green-refinance support from Bangladesh Bank. Situated in Norshingpur area of Kashipur union in Narayanganj Sadar Upazila, the factory is now getting ready for operation. The main production building, made in pre-fabricated steel, is only two storied and has 10 exit points in case of emergency. It is fully air-conditioned to provide comfort for the workers. In another two-storey building nearby is workers’ lifestyle centre. One part of this building’s ground floor is childcare centre where a lady physician will be available every working day. Other part is dining hall. One part of the first floor is prayer hall while other part is training centre with 200 sitting capacity. Last week, a group of journalists visited Plummy Fashion premises to have firsthand experience of the green initiative. “We have put our effort in to make the project country’s first highly green knitwear factory of international standards,” said Fazlul Haque, managing director of the company. He also informed the journalists that the project is likely to be rated as ‘LEED Platinum’ as per the guidelines of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating is a points-based system where a rating level is achieved once a project meets all of the prerequisites and a minimum number of points. Depending on the number of points earned, a project may be labelled LEED Certified, LEED Silver, LEED Gold or LEED Platinum. In Bangladesh, first LEED Platinum-rated garment factory is Vintage Dennim Studio, situated in Ishwardy Export Processing Zone. It, however, produces only denim. “Plummy is first such factory in knit garment industry which is the largest export item of Bangladesh,” said Mr Haque. “It is also world’s first green knit factory.” Some 2,000 workers can work in the factory which has production capacity of 0.92 million pieces every month. Initial production will start this month and full-swing operation within few months as some other construction works are still going on. “We are highly energy-saving as we will use sunlight in daytime. Energy-efficient lights will be used in adjustment with reduction of sun light in rainy days and winter season,” said Ranjan Dhaor, another director of the company. Around 13 per cent of power will be supplied from solar panels installed on rooftop of the building, he added. Plummy Fashions also set up mechanism to use rainwater to ease pressure on groundwater and to restrict misuse of water. There is a strong fire-fighting arrangement where huge reserve of water is assured. An effluent-treatment plant is also there. With lot of trees and plants around and a pond at the centre of the premises, the whole landscape takes a soothing look. “Factories caring to people and plant are possible in Bangladesh,” said Mr Haque. “We start a journey and definitely others will soon join the rally. Some 50 to 100 such green factories could be built easily as many entrepreneurs have the financial ability to do this. This will change the image of the readymade garments in a positive direction.”
