Business Desk :
Two more factories have been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) with both receiving Gold rating and thus taking the total number of LEED factories to 202 in the country.
Out of the number, 73 earned the prestigious Platinum rating, 115 Gold and 10 silver rating.
In 2022, Bangladesh had the highest number of factories being LEED certified in a single year, said BGMEA president Faruque Hassan in a statement.
He said with 30 factories receiving LEED certification 2022, 15 were Platinum and 15 Gold certified.
Fast forward to August 2023, another 20 factories have earned this coveted recognition in eight months of this year, with 13 achieving the esteemed Platinum rating and seven attaining the Gold rating.
Faruque said Bangladesh’s RMG industry reached the landmark of 200 LEED certified factories by USGBC last month while the country made a distinction being the home to 13 of 15 globally highest-rated LEED Green Factories.
“Among these, one stands out as the highest-rated LEED Green Factory globally. 500 more factories are in the pipeline to get the certification as its happening gradually,” he said.
The BGMEA president said Bangladesh’s RMG industry has made all-out efforts with commitment and determination to become sustainable in every respect, especially in the workplace safety, workers wellbeing and environmental areas.
“The unparalleled green transformation is a testament of our visionary entrepreneurship showing resilience, flexibility, mindset toward positive changes and capability to adapt,” he added.
He said this international recognition not only highlights the dedication, but also showcases the country’s potential as a leader in sustainable manufacturing practices.
“The perception about the industry among the global community has changed significantly,” he said, adding that Bangladesh is no more known as a producer of basic items and workplace hazards.
In the past decade, the garment manufactures laid a strong foundation in workplace safety, transparency and developing an ecosystem to support growth.
