Bangladesh can’t build as many eco-friendly or green factories as it wants to.The reason is lack of appropriately qualified middle-level technicians and local technical knowhow.

Most companies in Bangladesh that have opted for green factories are forced to recruit technical experts from abroad, paying them a high sum for retainership. In many industries, businesses have achieved international certification using solar power and various green technologies. But there are no mid-level Bangladeshi technicians and consultants to build these factories.

It takes 20 per cent to 30 per cent additional investment for setting up green plants but there is no financing source to undertake this endeavor. Consequently, very few manufacturers take interest in setting up green factories.

Since 2016, Bangladesh has set up 67 LEED certified green factories in the readymade garment sector. This happens to be the highest in the world. The world’s highest rated LEED platinum denim factory, knit factory, washing plant and textile mill all are situated in Bangladesh.

In all, the world over, there are 280 factories that are registered with the US GBC as green factories. Indonesia has 40 green factories, followed by India with 30 and Sri Lanka with ten.

Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector is a 28 billion dollar industry.