Bangladesh denim makers join eco-friendly initiative to produce sustainable denim

Bangladesh denim industry joins the eco friendly initiative, and have started to produce sustainable denim, applying ways and methods to conserve energy and natural resources. Not only that it helps reduce environmental hazards in every stage of production as it has become a major concern among the world consumers and also cuts production cost.

According to textile experts, the green system will help cut use of water by 92% and energy by 30% to produce a pair of jeans compared to conventional methods. The new system uses less chemicals, helps to avoid wastage of water and reduce carbon emission and encourages use of recyclable raw materials. It also reduces cotton waste by up to 87%, thus easing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases generated through the burning of cotton.

Shahidul Hasan, director of Amber Denim Limited, said that in traditional methods it requires production of 60 degree heat, in sustainable method it can be done with 40 degree. Use of less water and chemicals will ultimately protect the environment. They have started using such chemicals and technology which consume less water and electricity to generate steams.

Abdus Salam Murshedy, managing director of Envoy Textile which also makes denim products, said they have “technically sound professionals” engaged in the production process of sustainable denim. The sustainable method ensures optimum use of resources, helping manufacturers reduce production cost. The green denim products are getting more popular among consumers than traditional ones.

According to Mustafiz Uddin, managing director of Denim Expert Ltd, the environmental cause was becoming a major issue in the world, buyers are now getting more attracted to green products and ready to pay higher for products manufactures in eco-friendly way.

Mustafiz urged the government to take steps to raise awareness among denim manufacturers and provide policy support along with incentives to producers who have adopted green technology.

In fact, the Denim Expo to be held in November will be broadly discussing the newly introduced term “sustainable denim” to make the industry people and encourage them to go on with the system. At the expo, four seminars will be held on the subjects like branding through green denim, safe and responsible supply chain, innovating sustainable denim for new generation market and sustainable wet processing, to highlight the prospects of Bangladesh denim industry.

The wide consumption of denim by fashion connoisseurs globally has created a new opportunity for Bangladesh. The industry in Bangladesh presently has 25 denim producing factories with total investment of over USD 834 million. Moreover global Market for Denim is forecast to reach USD 64.1 billion by 2020.