Promoting eco-friendly production process in the RMG sector

The Daily Star in association with the Embassy of Denmark in Bangladesh and Novozymes A/S organized a roundtable titled “Promoting eco-friendly production process in the RMG sector” on May 20, 2019.

The discussion revolved around how the growth of the RMG sector can be sustained while protecting our natural resources. The readymade garments (RMG) sector contributes 12.5 percent to GDP and accounts for 80 percent of our export basket. It is slated to reach USD 50 billion in exports by 2021, but that success comes at the cost of the environment. Discussants at the roundtable highlighted the downsides of massive consumption of water in the industry. Every year, the apparel industry uses 1,500 billion liters of water to dye and wash garments which is equivalent to the drinking needs of 800,000 people. While the industry will continue to grow, it must be done in a manner that will reduce use of water and stop wastage of finite resources.

Winnie Estrup Petersen, the honorable Danish Ambassador, has said, “As retailers and customers become more conscious, the sustainable production of clothes will be a requirement, not an option. Increasingly efficient, safe and eco-friendly solutions will give Bangladeshi RMG sector much better branding and a competitive edge in the global market.”

NCCI President, Tareq Rahman who also attended the discussion said, “Access to finance for implementation of green initiatives still remains a challenge. There should be a green fund to support eco-friendly production process in the RMG sector. Metering system should be introduced to track usage of water in factories. The government should also formulate legislation regarding efficient use of water.”