The fourth Sustainable Apparel Forum (SAF) highlights the transformation from a linear to a circular model in the apparel sector – including circularity, climate action, renewable energy, and human rights due diligence.
The Sustainable Apparel Forum, held on March 16, witnessed 60 prominent speakers and 20 exhibitors from across the globe gathered at the Forum organized by Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) highlighting issues including circularity, climate action, and human rights due diligence.
H.E. Charles Whiteley, Ambassador & Head of Delegation, European Union in Bangladesh highlighted Bangladesh’s sustainable strides and the EU’s assistance in this regard. Charles Whiteley said, “Everyone has a responsibility for a sustainable planet – governments, industries, civil society, and individuals. No one can do everything but we all can do something to save the planet by ensuring sustainability. In terms of sustainability in the apparel industry, Bangladesh is far ahead of its competitors by becoming a center of compliance and maintaining industrial regulations to meet the challenges of the Green transition. The European Union is with you on this path of Green transformation.”
“We are also poised to invest hundreds of millions of euros in support to generate energy from renewable sources. To help the country to meet its goal of generating 40% energy from renewable sources by 2041.”
“European Union Chamber and Commerce will be fully operational by this year – will assist businesses in navigating with EU legislations such as due diligence.”
“The apparel sector is the beating heart of EU-Bangladesh trade relations. Apparel exports to the EU from Bangladesh stood at €24 billion last year. After the finalization of the new EU GSP regulation – some existing uncertainties in EU-Bangladesh trade relations will be removed. We need to intensify the work we are doing together.”
Mostafiz Uddin, Founder of BAE and organizer of the SAF, said: “At every key fashion brand, the discussion is the same right now. It is ‘how can we cut our CO2 emissions in order to meet net-zero targets?’ Circular fashion could play a dynamic role because closing the loop means not using virgin cotton, new fabrics. Instead, the industry is recycling and reusing fabric waste, thus not only decreasing CO2 emissions but also safeguarding the best use of natural resources.”
“That is why occasions such as Sustainable Apparel Forum are so vital, as they offer a prospect to explore the trials and drive collective action for the industry.”
Speakers voiced that a thorough approach is needed to safeguard a sustainable business environment within the supply chain. They urged all stakeholders to put determinations together in a collaborative approach to build a more sustainable and resilient supply chain.
At the inauguration ceremony, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi as the chief guest sought everyone’s cooperation to make the country’s garment industry sustainable and said that the government policy can transform the waste-based economy of the garment industry into a renewable economy.
Tipu Munshi also said, “Currently Bangladesh is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. I think the country’s garment industry can be made sustainable in two ways. One is the government policy to transform the garment industry’s waste-based economy into a renewable economy. The second is the cooperation of all in achieving the goals of a sustainable apparel industry.”
Pointing out that the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is providing overall support in transforming the waste-based economy of the garment industry into a renewable economy, he said, various initiatives have already been taken to make the garment industry sustainable. We can achieve better results in this field through everyone’s coordination and cooperation.
US Ambassador Peter D. Haas was present as the special guest at the Forum and said, ‘We are proud to be the main destination for garments in Bangladesh. We want to grow this relationship and also to talk about the role of labor in sustainable development.
The US Ambassador said that the labor quality of Bangladesh has improved in the last decade and a half. But there are still many deficiencies. In many cases, workers do not have the opportunity to form a trade union. Apart from this, there is a need for further improvement in other matters related to workers’ wages.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said that it is not logical to limit the issue of responsible business and sustainable trade to the level of manufacturers. Building a sustainable and resilient supply chain requires concerted efforts by all stakeholders in an integrated approach.
He said, several steps have also been taken to make the industry greener and cleaner. Bangladesh now has the highest number of lead green factories certified by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) at 192. Apart from this, 53 of the world’s top 100 green garment factories are located in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, after the opening ceremony, 4 plenary sessions were held on the ready-made garment industry sector. In these sessions, local and foreign experts spoke and discussed the crisis, challenges and prospects of the garment sector.
Ranjan Mahtani, Executive Chairman of EPIC Group said, “Today ensuring sustainability is the biggest responsibility for all of us in the supply chain. Yes, as an entrepreneur, ensuring profitability is our priority – but at the same time taking care of nature and giving a better working environment for our workers is paramount.”
A roundtable discussion titled ‘The Journey towards Circular Fashion in Bangladesh’ took place, moderated by Barrister Vidiya Amrit Khan, Director of BGMEA, which discussed how Bangladesh’s apparel sector could harness circularity to achieve its US$100bn export goal by 2030.
Local Government Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Tajul Islam was present as the chief guest in the closing ceremony in the evening while Siddiqur Rahman, former president of BGMEA, Fazle Shamim Ehsan, vice president of BKMEA and others were present as special guests.
Siddiqur Rahman said that the workers helped run the factory during Corona pandemic. After Rana Plaza, there are 192 green factories and 200 more are in pipeline. However, buyers don’t value it and don’t pay extra for it.
Nasrul Hamid MP, Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh; Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP, Honorable State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Bangladesh; Md. Atiqul Islam, The Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation and Former President BGMEA; Charles Wheatley, Head of Delegation and Ambassador of the European Union Embassy in Dhaka; Salim Rahman, Chairman of Al Arafa Islami Bank and MD of KDS Group; Naureen Chowdhury, Head of Labor Rights Programme, Laudes Foundation; Tuomo Poutiainen, Country Director, International Labour Organization (ILO) also spoke at the forum.
