RMG Bangladesh Desk
Green industry initiative is a major driver towards sustainable industrial development around the world. One of the popular strategies to halt environmental degradation is green building culture in garments industry. Bangladesh has taken initiatives to re-establish its dignified position in RMG and whole garment sector by creating a green industrialization culture.
In 2012 and 2013, Bangladesh was the stage for the most horrific industrial accidents. Tazreen factory caught fire, killing 112 workers and the Rana Plaza building collapsed, killing 1,134 workers. These tragedies shook the entire supply chain and buyers, governments, international development agencies, NGO’s and trade bodies all rallied together.
But, besides all odds, the move towards green buildings helped in recovering Bangladesh’s image. Bangladesh is also a home ground for some not so quotidian achievements. According to the United States Green Building Council, Bangladesh is home to some of the world’s most environment-friendly apparel factories.
The world’s highest-rated green denim, knitwear, washing and textiles mills are all in Bangladesh. Of the top 11 LEED (Leadership in energy and Environmental Design) Platinum-certified factories, eight are from Bangladesh. According to BGMEA, Bangladesh has the greenest RMG factories in the world; Indonesia is the second largest with 50 green factories followed by India with 30 and Sri Lanka with 10.
The term ‘green industry’ comes from a concept ‘green economy’, a pathway towards sustainability that is followed by organizations such as the World Bank and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
While eco-friendly RMG factories in the beginner stage, the question has arisen that, how do our RMG Industry go from LEED and PACT success stories to transformational change that will ensure Bangladesh’s place in a green supply chain? Green technology involves hardware and operational knowledge and can range from large and complex technologies to simpler ones.
In order to qualify for the certificate, a project has to ensure the highest standard of building construction. An LEED certificate requires factories to meet its nine prerequisites – construction materials that create less carbon emission, hi-tech machinery for production, saving electricity, preserving rainwater, having enough space for constructing other buildings and ensuring housing facilities, schools, bazaars, and bus stands for the workers within 500 square miles of the factory.
A LEED-certified factory building ensures 25-30 percent less water and energy consumption, and fewer industrial accidents, like fires, causing fewer casualties with special architectural design. Currently, Bangladesh has 650 green buildings registered with the USGBC. Green buildings also ensure a safe workplace for workers as the factory owners have to follow certain rules for construction of the buildings.
Green industry increases material and energy efficiency as well as reduces waste outputs and pollution. At the same time, it improves energy and water efficiency systems and develops a recycling process to reduce pollution of air, land, and water.
Miran Ali, Chairman of Remi Holdings Ltd, a LEED platinum certified company, which scored 97 out of 110 said, “Over the years, we have heard about the green garment factories in Sri Lanka. But a few years ago, some of our entrepreneurs started thinking about it and finally, we succeeded. Now we have the highest number of green garment factories in the apparel sector.” Miran hoped that, 10% of the total RMG sector in next decade will use green technology.
Environmental sustainability would contribute towards ushering in a new era in the industrial sector of Bangladesh. Siddiqur Rahman, President of BGMEA said: “The highest rated LEED Platinum denim factory, knit factory, washing plant and textile mill all are situated in Bangladesh and the entrepreneurs of our RMG sector are the pioneering force of this achievement”.
Experts think that Bangladesh’s RMG factories specifically need strong regulatory signals, long-term institutional changes, economic incentives to banks, financial institutions and factory owners and collaborative and coordinated efforts to foster networks of greening, skills building, trust building, and behavioral change.
Bangladesh is now leading position in the Green industry culture and Sustainable industrialization pathway. But, Settings up green factories are still too expensive in Bangladesh for the larger dependency of raw materials on external sources. There is no special privilege for the green garment factories; only the buyers’ priority.
BGMEA hope, International retailers will reward green factories with higher prices for the initiative. In the long run, green initiatives can save money and build an excellent, long-lasting branding atmosphere for the Bangladeshi garment sector.
