Garment sector must go green to retain global markets

Dutch vice-minister says during factory visit

Bangladesh’s garment industry must invest in cleaner production and transparency to remain competitive in global markets as the country prepares to graduate from least developed country (LDC) status, Steven Collet, vice-minister for international cooperation of the Netherlands, said on Monday.

“Bangladesh’s garment industry is an important part of global value chains, and its future depends on factories that combine competitiveness with responsibility,” he said during a visit to TEAM Group’s outerwear manufacturing facility, 4A Yarn Dyeing Ltd, in Dhaka.

A seven-member Dutch delegation visited the factory to explore cooperation in sustainable apparel manufacturing and trade amid changing global trade rules and emerging sustainability requirements.

Afroza Shahin, managing director of TEAM Group, and Abdullah Hil Nakib, deputy managing director, welcomed the delegation.

Discussions with TEAM Group’s senior management covered Bangladesh’s LDC graduation, a proposed Bangladesh-European Union free trade agreement, decarbonisation, responsible sourcing, supply chain traceability and compliance with emerging EU sustainability regulations.

The two sides also explored collaboration with Dutch apparel brands and development partners in clean energy, circularity, digital product passports and workforce development.

Steven praised the factory’s investment in clean energy and transparency, saying the Netherlands looked forward to continuing its partnership with Bangladesh to promote a sustainable and inclusive textile sector.

“It was inspiring to see how 4A Yarn Dyeing is investing in clean energy and transparency,” he said.

Afroza said sustainability investments were essential to maintaining the apparel industry’s competitiveness.

“The Netherlands has long been a partner in our industry’s journey towards safer, fairer and greener production,” she said. “Changing trade rules and the energy crisis both point in the same direction: the factories investing in sustainability today are the ones that will keep their markets tomorrow.”

She said TEAM Group looked forward to strengthening its partnership with the Netherlands.

The delegation observed the factory’s rooftop solar power plant, rainwater harvesting system, fair price shop and childcare facilities.

Certified LEED Platinum by the US Green Building Council, 4A Yarn Dyeing is also the world’s first outerwear manufacturing unit to sign the United Nations Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.

The delegation included Wampie Libon, ambassador for sustainable development and director of Inclusive Green Growth at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Joris van Bommel, Dutch ambassador to Bangladesh; Helal Hussain, country director of Swisscontact Bangladesh; Selim Reza Hasan, country manager of Solidaridad Network Bangladesh; Bablur Rahman, Bangladesh country manager of Fair Wear Foundation; and Muyeed Hasan, country manager of AWARE Bangladesh.