BGMEA underlines need to go green

The Bangladesh readymade garment (RMG) sector is waking up to the need for making the industry an environmental-friendly one.

A seminar jointly organized by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Canadian High Commission, stressed on the ‘green’ efforts in Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) sector as part of corporate social responsibility or CSR.

The seminar titled 'Greening RMG as CSR in Bangladesh's was held at BGMEA Apparel Club in Dhaka recently.

The seminar covered four topics to take a green approach in a RMG factory.

Presentations were given on Step By Step Approach to Achieve Green Status, Green Energy and Features in Green Building, Health and Safety in RMG for Improve Performance, University Shaping up Future Graduates for Greening RMG Industry.

BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman highlighted the vision of the industry to export garments worth $50 billion by 2021, and said that green approach can help the industry to achieve the goal.

He said that 26 Bangladeshi garment factories have been certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) while 100 more are registered with USGB for the certification.

Canadian High Commissioner Benoit Pierre Laramee stressed on the importance of Bangladesh garments entrepreneurs to move up the supply chain by improving productivity, developing skills, improving factory environment, adopting advanced technologies and international standards.

Laramee also reiterated Canada’s commitment to supporting the government of Bangladesh’s efforts to improve the working conditions in the readymade garments sector.

The Canadian envoy outlined that ‘greening RMG’ could be a key for the sustainable development for the improvement of the working conditions.

Bangladeshi Commerce Ministry Senior Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, said the initiative would help the RMG industry understand the need for green manufacturing process to comply with international standards.