Two more RMG units get global green recognition

The number of green garment factories in Bangladesh has reached 173 as two more units received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) yesterday.

Of the two factories, Aman Tex Limited located in Boiragirchala of Gazipur received the highest-rank of platinum while Ayesha Fashion Ltd in Dhaka received gold, the second highest ranking.

Sharaf Apparels Washing and Dyeing Industries, Debonair Limited and Orbitex Knitwear Limited in Ashulia, and Fatullah Apparels in Jalkuri of Narayanganj received platinum level LEED certifications from the USGBC last month.

Of the total number of green garment units in the country, 54 are platinum, 105 gold, 10 silver and 4 are only certified, according to data from Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Some 550 more factories are registered with the USGBC to be LEED certified.

Nine of the top 10 green factories in the world are located in Bangladesh.

Also, 41 of the 50 greenest garment factories are located in the country, making it the global champion in green garment units.

Md Shahidullah Azim, vice-president of the BGMEA, said although international retailers and brands do not pay any additional price for the green initiative, local manufacturers are building LEED certified green factories to be compliant and brighten the industry's image as well as that of the country.

Buyers always pressure local manufacturers to comply with environmental and ecological protection guidelines in the production of garment items.

However, international retailers and brands were asked to tag the green logo on garment items produced in the green factories but they are not following this instruction, Azim said.

The BGMEA vice president then said they have long been pushing global buyers to pay additional prices for garments purchased from green factories as more money is spent for the construction of these units.

After the nation's two deadliest industrial disasters -- the fire at Tazreen Fashions and collapse of Rana Plaza -- local apparel makers started constructing green garment factories mainly to brighten the image of the sector and the country among international communities.