A Celebration of Green Transition in Factories in Honor of World Environment Day 2024

Upskilling and Reskilling
Written by Sayeda Zeenat Karim 03.07.2024
Swisscontact Bangladesh’s Promoting Green Growth in the Ready-Made Garments Sector Through Skills (PROGRESS) project and the donor Embassy of Sweden, had come together to commemorate World Environment Day 2024. The event was held at the Factory, Multifabs Limited in Gazipur, centered around the theme "Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience," emphasizing its relevance to the RMG sector in Bangladesh.

Mr. Ikramul H. Sohel, Senior National Programme Officer at the Embassy of Sweden, honored the occasion with his presence at Multifabs Ltd. The event featured insightful speeches from Ms. Syeda Ishrat Fatema, Head of Programme & Team Leader (PROGRESS) at Swisscontact, Mr. Shoriful Islam, Head of Business Assurance at Intertek Bangladesh, Mr. Abu Shehab, AGM- HR (Human Resources) & Admin at Multifabs Limited and Mr. Ripul Miah, Manager of Compliance and Sustainability at Multifabs Limited.  Approximately 50 attendees were present at the event, including representatives from the Embassy of Sweden, international non-governmental organisations, factory management, and their associated private businesses for the green transition. They convened to showcase and discuss their work on environmental preservation and sustainability.

 

Mr. Ikramul Sohel, representing Embassy of Sweden, delivering speech

At the event, Intertek Bangladesh Ltd., a leading audit firm, emphasized the importance of green skills across all organizational levels during their presentation. They highlighted the need to identify and implement these skills to address the energy transition and renewable energy use, particularly within the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector. A key focus was on GHG accounting and sustainability reporting, which, while not yet mandatory, could soon transform the industry. Given the RMG sector's significant contribution to Bangladesh's greenhouse gas emissions, adopting sustainable practices is crucial to meet the country's commitments under the Paris Agreement and align with international brands' net-zero targets.

 

 

A female worker shares her insights on sustainable practices

The PROGRESS project supports the RMG sector in Bangladesh by promoting sustainability and enhancing environmental performance. Adopting green production practices is crucial since international brands increasingly demand rigorous sustainability standards, including the measurement and disclosure of GHG emissions, water usage, and waste management practices. Compliance with these standards is both an environmental responsibility and a business necessity; factories that fail to meet these expectations risk losing business and damaging their reputation globally.

 

 

 

Celebrating Factory workers contribution

It is also worth mentioning that Multifabs Limited is integrating sustainable practices into its business, such as installing solar panels for clean energy, implementing effluent treatment plants for wastewater treatment, and engaging in other green initiatives. These efforts set a benchmark for other factories to follow.

The event concluded with participants making a symbolic green pledge, affirming their commitment to integrating sustainable practices into their personal and professional lives.

 

Link to the Press release: Swisscontact (PROGRESS) and Embassy of Sweden celebrate World Environment Day

World Environment Day 2024