Environmental concern linked with textile waste has emerged as a critical challenge for Bangladesh with its remarkable economic growth being the world's second-largest garment exporter, speakers said on Tuesday.
International buyers and European Union's regulatory changes are increasingly selecting suppliers based on their green credentials, according to them.
Bangladesh needs to respond proactively to the changing demands to stay competitive through research and development and process innovation.
It has enormous potential to turn the pre-consumer waste into resources by recycling and reusing them provided with required financial, technological and other related policy support.
The speakers recommended adopting a holistic strategy with clear directions and framework to formalise textile waste collection and policy support for a thriving circular ecosystem here.
The observations and recommendations came at an inception programme of a new project with an eye to addressing the challenges.
UNIDO together with commerce ministry and other partners marked the official inception of the project styled 'SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains (SWITCH2CE)' to steer the textile and garment sector towards sustainable circular practices.
The project, co-funded by the European Union and the government of Finland, is poised to pioneer circular strategies across textiles, plastic packaging, and ICT and electronics value chains.
Textiles and jute minister Golam Dastagir Gazi was present at the event as the chief guest.
A panel discussion, moderated by Policy Exchange Bangladesh chairman Dr M Masrur Reaz, was also held.
Minister Gazi said the project's outcomes would enable the circular economy transition of textile industry in Bangladesh by creating significant trade and social impacts for the country.
"It will support our country's development journey by 2041," he mentioned.
EU Delegation to Bangladesh chargé d'affaires Dr Bernd Spancier said being the second-largest garment exporter, Bangladesh also produces huge amount of textile waste.
With the rising living standards after graduation, waste materials would also increase, he noted, explaining the reason behind this pilot project.
"Bangladesh is now a world leader in green factories. There is no reason why it couldn't become a world leader in circularity, too."
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Faruque Hassan said they have realigned their priorities to continuously deliver better solutions.
"We've recently introduced a new corporate logo representing nine commitments, with "Circularity" being one of them. Our goal is to conserve the natural ecosystem through an economic shift from a linear to a circular system."
"This is not just a vision; it's a commitment to drive change," he told the programme.
Senior commerce secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, UNIDO representative Zaki Uz Zaman and commerce ministry additional secretary Abdur Rahim Khan, among others, also spoke.
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