More than 20% of the wastewater is generated from the global denim manufacturing industry. Bangladeshi manufacturers are adopting green manufacturing techniques to minimize industrial effects on the environment and help conserve water and energy. Modern dyeing methods include digital printing, air dyeing, etc, which reduces the use of hazardous chemicals and conventional water-demanding treatments.

Also, the use of end-of-roll and post-consumer denim together with regenerated fibres is rising and further contributes to arguing for a circular economy within the textile industry. Links with recycling firms and the adoption of sources of corporate power, like solar energy production, are also boosting production capacity.

Key denim industry highlights

The annual export value is $5 billion, making Bangladesh the largest exporter of denim in the USA and EU. As the EU Trade Commission Reports 2024 depicts, it has 22.88% of the total EU market share of denim and 20.65% in the USA. From the data obtained from The Financial Express, we learn that Bangladesh exports denim garments worth $839 million to the USA and $ 1 billion to the EU annually, which is continually increasing.

These achievements result from efficiency and innovation in denim washing and dyeing technologies, where the company can produce superior quality, value-added denim garments while keeping costs competitive. The annual export value is $5 billion, and Bangladesh is the largest exporter of denim in the USA and EU. More than forty domestic denim-producing mills meet 50% of the fabric requirement of export-oriented garment manufacturing.

Experts' views on Bangladesh denim

Ziaur Rahman, H&M Regional Manager, matured some compliance issues concerning awareness: "Our supply chain is weak in awareness of global compliance. This process must first be laid down to establish a competitive industry."

Syed M. Tanvir, Managing Director of Pacific Jeans said, "Right now Bangladesh is capable of making all segments, right from basic to advanced level denim ." also added that it has invested in automation correctly, and people targeted a yearly growth of 12% for the company this year.

Yilmaz Demir, a Sales Representative of Bossa company from Turkey, said that Bangladesh was chosen as the denim producer owing to a lower cost and a focus on sustainability shared, "Bangladesh has been the preferred denim producer because of its low prices and centre of attention on sustainability."

The exciting news is that Envoy Textiles has been exploring recycling management strategies that must address the global goal of a 2030 recycled yarn uptake for sustainable denim production. Tanvir Ahmed, Managing Director of Envoy Textiles, shared, "These recycling plant ideas align with global trends to keep production processes here sustainable and economical."

Sustainable denim industry development at a glance

Even for the competitors of Next and Primark from Bangladesh, some cited many advancements in these factories, including laser and ozone treatments that cut water use by up to 80% and energy use by 30%, as quoted by Apparel Resources.

Manufacturers from Bangladesh use recycled fibres originating from post-consumer waste in denim production. This is in line with practices being adopted worldwide to encourage the adoption of a circular economy within the fashion Industry.

Future outlook and growth opportunities

According to The Global Economic Report 2024, while the global economy is unpredictable, denim is sustainable because inflation rates in key markets will drop. Major rivals such as Pacific Jeans and Denim Expert Ltd. use sustainable production methods to compete in the international market. According to a survey conducted during the Denim Expo, 2024 by the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), automating the process was cited by 78% of the respondents as the factor that would fuel the next stage of development. Over 65% of participants singled out the need to boost cooperation between global buyers and local manufacturers as the leading way to address compliance challenges.

However, Bangladesh is not left behind in effectively giving the tag 'Made in Bangladesh' a new and optimistic hope. Different Expo underlines the present success and showcases the path for the upcoming progression; Bangladesh thus sets an example globally of sustainable denim fashion.

In a nutshell, in the future, compliance, innovation, collaboration, and collective efforts and cooperation from the global community will be essential for Bangladesh to seize the post-LDC challenges and consolidate its position as the leading denim fabric maker in the world.