Now there’s a portal to monitor resource usage in garment sector

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has developed a web tool, PaCT Portal, to help calculate resource consumption in the country's readymade garments industry.

The data-driven monitoring software will provide real-time analytics for readymade garment factories, helping them in their efforts to improve use of resources, such as water and energy, according to a statement.

The initiative comes as IFC-led Partnership for Cleaner Textile (PaCT II) enters its third year with eight partners working together to reduce the environmental impact of the export-oriented sector. Bangladesh is the second largest apparel exporter in the world, next only to China, according to the World Trade Organisation. Apparel accounts for more than 80 per cent of the country's exports.

The portal was launched at the PaCT annual meet held in Dhaka yesterday, where panel discussions focused on issues such as low-carbon opportunities in the textile industry.

Panellists also highlighted how emerging consumer behaviour and choice are now shaping the global apparel market.

This monitoring tool will work as an analytical information exchange platform to help with users' decision-making regarding water and energy consumption, said Nishat Chowdhury, programme manager for PaCT.

"It can play a big role in leading the industry towards sustainability and achieve results that are right for the industry, the planet, and our future generation," Chowdhury added.

In a video message, Rubana Huq, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said: "The industry has saved a huge amount of water and energy through the collaborative partnership with PaCT. We would like to think and shape tomorrow for the better and we can only do that by being the best of partners in the days to come."

Supported by Denmark, Australia, and the Netherlands, PaCT's multi-stakeholder partnership has already helped the industry save 25 billion litres of water and 2.5 million megawatt hours of energy annually.

Launched in 2018, PaCT II works with 132 factories to adopt state-of-the-art efficiency and reduce water, energy and chemical use to meet global standards, the statement added.

Five textile brands -- VF Corp., Puma, Levi Strauss & Co, Tesco and GAP Inc. -- have partnered with the PaCT programme.

Jeanologia, Radiant Alliance and EMKAY are the technology providers, while the BGMEA is the implementing partner.