BGMEA President Faruque Hassan urged all the stakeholders including buyers to join hands together to achieve shared goals around sustainability in order to secure a safe and bright future.

“To what extent climate change will change the world is still unclear, but one thing is certain: businesses can no longer grow at the cost of the environment. The decisions taken now and in the coming years will affect the planet,” he said.

All would have to play their respective roles to protect the planet from peril, he further said.

He made the comments while addressing a seminar on “Promoting circularity for a sustainable RMG sector in Bangladesh” as a special guest.

Salman F Rahman MP, Private Industry and Investment Advisor to the honorable Prime Minister, H.E. Charles Whiteley, Ambassador and Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh;  H.E. Ms. Winnie Estrup, Ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh, Silje Fines Wenebbo,?Charge the Affairs of Norway Embassy, and Tahrin Aman, President, Nordic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also spoke at the seminar organized by NCCI and Nordic embassies in Dhaka on March 14.

Highlighting the achievements of Bangladesh’s garment industry, Faruque Hassan said, “Bangladesh RMG industry’s march toward environmental sustainability is unprecedented and unmatched anywhere in the world. It is also a manifestation of Bangladeshi apparel makers’ commitment to take the sector forward and meet ESG standards throughout the manufacturing process.”

Calling on brands to support their suppliers in sustainability efforts, he said, “Brands are pressing us for a net-zero road map in line with their own strategic targets of becoming climate neutral. When the brands are setting ambitious targets, it is their responsibility to make sure that no one is left behind in the supply chain.”

He also put emphasis on assisting SMEs in adopting sustainable practices. 

“We also have to keep in mind that SMEs represent the majority of the BGMEA member factories, and given the ambitious goals made by brands towards sustainability, it is harder for them to invest in issues like circularity or overall climate change. So, it is imperative that we keep them in our mind while designing the business model or offer collaborative approach.”