Bangladesh’s commitment to green initiatives in the garment sector continues to grow, as two more readymade garment (RMG) factories have received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification this month. This brings the total number of LEED-certified factories in the country to 220.

As of May this year, the number of LEED-certified factories stood at 218, with 12 factories earning the certification in the past five months alone. LEED is a globally recognized green building rating system that emphasizes environmental responsibility and energy efficiency.

Mohiuddin Rubel, Director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), highlighted that the increasing number of LEED certifications underscores the country’s dedication to sustainable practices within the garment sector.

Of the 220 certified factories, 84 have achieved the highest, platinum rating, 122 have earned gold, 10 silver, and 4 are certified. The newly certified factories are Cotton Club & Cotton Clout-Building 1 in Gazipur’s Kashimpur and Graphics Textiles Limited in Dhaka’s Dhamrai, both achieving scores of 71 and 78 in the gold category.

In the last five months, eight of the newly certified factories received the platinum rating, while the remaining four were awarded gold. Notable performers include S.M. Sourcing with 106 points and Green Textiles Limited Unit 4 with 104 points. Other high scorers include Integra Dresses and Knit Asia Limited, both achieving 99 points, Remi Holdings Ltd with 97 points, and Fatullah Apparels, also scoring 97 points.

Bangladesh’s achievements in this area position the country as a leader in the global sustainable fashion movement. According to BGMEA data, 56 out of the top 100 LEED-certified green factories worldwide are located in Bangladesh, including 9 of the top 10 and 18 of the top 20.

The geographic distribution of these certifications within Bangladesh illustrates the RMG industry’s widespread commitment to sustainability.