Bangladesh now gets 206 green factories

Bangladesh's garment industry has touched a new milestone after three more factories received the certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for their green initiatives, raising the total to 206.

With this, 13 of the world's top 15 lead green factories are in Bangladesh.

The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has given lead certification to three new garment factories in the country on Wednesday.

Bangladesh has made remarkable strides sustainably with 206 Leed green factories, including 76 platinum-rated, 116 gold-rated, 10 silver-rated, and 4 certified, solidifying its commitment to environmental stewardship.

Moreover, 24 new factories certified in just the past six months, including 16 platinum and 8 gold, showcased the pivotal role in propelling the country towards global leadership in eco-friendly garment production.

So far, 54 of the world's top 100 Leed green factories are now located in Bangladesh, including 9 of the top 10 and 18 of the top 20, this achievement is poised to attract further investment and partnerships, solidifying Bangladesh's position as a global leader in sustainable manufacturing.

Bangladesh achieved 30 green building certifications in 2022, while 550 more factories are in the pipeline to get the USGBC’s Leed certification.

USGBC honors factories based on several criteria – transformation performance, energy, water, and waste management. The best performers are rated with platinum, followed by gold and silver.

According to industry insiders, these criteria help green factories significantly reduce operational costs over time even though they may initially cost more to set up. These factories also provide a safe working environment for employees.

BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel applauded the efforts of SM Sourcing for obtaining the prestigious position despite being a mid-sized factory.

“Even though there is a shortage of orders worldwide, we are still getting orders only because of our green factories. We are committed to the environment and labour rights,” he added.