BATEXPO 2026 will recognise 12 initiatives across four categories through the Sustainability Leadership (TSL) Award, highlighting achievements in sustainability, technological innovation and other key areas of Bangladesh's garment and textile industries.
The awards will be presented during the silver jubilee edition of BATEXPO, scheduled for 18–19 November at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka, with PDS Limited as the title sponsor, according to the press release.
Described by the organisers as Bangladesh's largest international garment industry exhibition, BATEXPO will feature the awards as one of its main attractions.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is organising the awards in collaboration with German development agency GIZ through its Stile II project, with support from Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and Bangladesh's Ministry of Commerce.
The minister responsible for environment and climate change has agreed to attend as the chief guest and present the awards to the winners.
The initiative aims to highlight the progress Bangladesh's garment industry has made over the past decade in rebuilding its international reputation through safer working conditions, stronger compliance and efforts to earn buyers' trust.
The awards seek to make these achievements more visible and recognise good sustainability practices across the garment and textile sectors. They will honour businesses whose commitment to worker welfare, environmental leadership, innovation and resilience is helping redefine the modern factory.
The organisers said addressing climate change, reducing carbon emissions, recycling, adopting circular economy practices and operating energy-efficient green factories had become essential to remaining competitive in the global apparel market.
They expect the initiative to strengthen the reputation of "Made in Bangladesh" and reinforce the country's position as a responsible and environmentally conscious sourcing destination.
The awards cover four main categories:
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People First: Worker Welfare, Model Factory, Women in Leadership and Community Champion.
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Planet Positive: Sustainability Leader of the Year, Water Guardian and Circular Textile Pioneer.
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Next Frontier: Business Innovator of the Year, Future-ready Award and Worker-centric Innovation.
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Rising Strength: Small Factory Big Impact, Resourceful Innovation and Growing Responsibly Award, focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises.
Winners will receive recognition at three levels – platinum, gold and silver.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said, "Our factories are setting remarkable examples in greening and innovation as they respond to the changing demands of the global garment industry. The Sustainability Leadership Award will showcase the contributions of these forward-looking entrepreneurs and factories nationally and internationally, helping make the sector more competitive."
Dr Michael Klode, project manager of GIZ Bangladesh's "Sustainability in the Textile and Leather Industries" project, known as Stile/Stile II, said the agency was pleased to support the TSL Award 2026 at BATEXPO as part of its longstanding partnership with BGMEA.
"Building on our previous collaboration on the Social and Environmental Excellence Awards in 2012 and 2014 and the TSL Award in 2022, this initiative recognises factories demonstrating leadership and innovation in environmental sustainability, social responsibility and environmental, social and governance practices," he said.
"We hope the awards will encourage wider adoption of sustainable practices and contribute to making Bangladesh's garment sector more responsible, resilient and globally competitive."
Bangladesh Brand Forum Founder and Managing Director Shariful Islam said, "Sustainability is neither a luxury nor a borrowed trend for us; it is a condition for our survival."
He said Bangladesh's garment industry had become the backbone of the economy through the labour of millions of workers, a large proportion of them women, while navigating the country's river-related and climatic challenges.
"As the country enters a new era of global competition, the TSL Award honours visionary factories that see responsibility towards people and nature as a symbol of national pride," he said.
He added that their leadership turned "Made in Bangladesh" from a label into a promise.
BGMEA has invited factories interested in submitting applications or nominations for the TSL Award at BATEXPO 2026 to visit www.batexpo.com.bd/tsl-awards.