Sustainability targets within reach in Bangladesh report finds
01/07/2025
The report cited one element that contributes to the favourable context in Bangladesh: the interim government’s Renewable Energy Policy which offers tax incentives among other measures to reduce fuel imports and shift toward cleaner energy sources. Currently, 57% of the country’s energy comes from gas and only 2% from renewables. The report notes that “Bangladesh faces challenges for a green energy transition” but sees opportunities in solar energy and in the implementation of more energy-efficient technologies.
Another positive sign is a new series of targets set by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). This Sustainability Vision 2030 seeks to assist the industry in reducing its GHG emissions by 30%, switching 20% of its energy usage to renewable sources, increasing ‘sustainable material sourcing’ to 50% and abiding by zero discharge of hazardous chemicals.
Nearly 1,300 factories in Bangladesh contributed data to the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) in 2023. Results show stronger performance than global averages, said Cascale. The country is home to more than 240 LEED-certified garment factories, which the organisation said is the most of any country in the world. Bangladesh counts 62 of the world’s top 100 highest-rated facilities.
Last year, BGMEA signed a MoU with Cascale to unify the industry’s sustainability efforts. In 2025, a new initiative, the Apparel and Textile Transformation Initiative (ATTI) was launched with support from the International Apparel Federation (IAF) and International Textile Manufacturers’ Federation (ITMF).
The report concludes that Bangladesh is at a turning point, and its efforts, including its participation in the UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, “signal readiness to lead a new era of responsible manufacturing”.
Photo courtesy of Denim Export Limited and Tilmann Wröbel
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