An eco-friendly RMG sector

It is puzzling to note that garments industry, a prime foreign exchange earner, has been left to its own devices to grow listlessly without sustainability built into the sector. As long as it minted money, the government and the industry owners were lulled into a complacent mode, thinking their position in the world market is invincible. But we have been rudely awakened by the Tazreen factory fire disaster. It has literally opened a Pandora's box as safety standards and environmental issues came under a closer scrutiny world wide.
In this backdrop, an International Finance Corporation sponsored study has come out with very useful recommendations. It has concluded that taking to eco-friendly production methods in textile and clothing industry could enable it to save up to $150m per year in cost-cutting terms. At the same time it will make the sector competitive and sustainable.
Basically, the process is sought to be introduced on a wider scale through adopting efficient use of water and energy. Of course, cleaner, environment-friendly production techniques, need to be only underpinned by effluent treatment plant in every factory.
Already, Kenpark Bangladesg apparel (pvt.) Limited has led the way in Chittagong Export Processing Zone by implementing 'green measures'. These have had benefits by way of improving energy and water efficiency systems together with developing a recycling process to reduce pollution of air, land and water. Vegetation in the factories helps reduce emission of carbon monoxide and cool the environs.
Obviously, it would require more than a study to prevail upon all concerned to try and reap the multiple dividends of greener production techniques. First, the stakeholders will have to get their act together; second, the government and the BGMEA should engage each other towards preparing a working plan; third, a facilitating role of the government will be welcome; and last, but not least, the workers will have to be retrained in the new ways of production.
In the ultimate analysis, worker's rights hold the key to taking the garment sector forward to the next step in a sustainable way.