The global leader in Leed-certified green factories is now a Bangladeshi readymade garment factory with a score of 104, which is the highest score ever achieved in the industry category worldwide.
The Green Textile Limited's (GTL) unit-4 factory in Mymensingh was awarded a platinum category Leed certificate by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) on February 21, 2023.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) reported that the local RMG sector has established its position in green manufacturing units, with 65 in the platinum category, 110 in gold, 10 in silver, and another four Leed-certified factory buildings.
Bangladesh dominates the top 10 and 100 Leed-certified factory units globally, with nine and 52, respectively. Presently, 189 factories in the country's garment industry hold Leed certification, and 550 more are either registered or in the pipeline for USGBC's Leed certification. Six factory units have achieved Leed certification in 2023, and in 2022, 30 factory units received Leed certification, the highest in a year.
USGBC credits factory units based on several criteria, including transformation performance, energy, water, and waste management. The best performers are rated with platinum, followed by gold and silver. These criteria help green factories reduce operational costs over time, even though they may initially cost more to set up. Green factories also provide a safe working environment for employees.
Industry insiders opine that Bangladesh's garment industry is poised to take the lead globally by addressing mounting issues of sustainability, climate change, groundwater depletion, and efficiency. The growing number of green apparel factories will give Bangladesh a vantage ground to cope with EU green deals and due diligence directives.
Bangladesh had the highest number of green factories, but the factory with the highest score was not in Bangladesh until now. GTL in Bangladesh is now the highest scoring green factory with a score of 104, overtaking a factory in Indonesia.
