An agreement was recently signed by Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association with ready-to-wear (RMG) buyer H&M, the country's largest, to reduce carbon emissions up to 30% by 2030 using recycled materials.

This is in alignment with the European Union’s target to implement Sustainable Development Goal 12. This goal refers to responsible consumption and production by reducing carbon emissions by making use of recycled cotton.

Syed Naved Hussain, group director and CEO of the textiles and apparel division of the Bangladesh Export Import Company (BEXIMCO), said that Bangladesh is required to meet the target as a prerequisite. He said that in recent decades, the focus has turned towards sustainable production challenges, particularly water and energy. The government of Bangladesh, development partners, donor organizations and the business sectors are taking appropriate decisions in this direction.

Around 5 million people work in the textile industry and 4.2 million Bangladeshis earn their livelihood through the garment industry. Hussain also stated that six of the top 10 greenest factories in the world as of 2020 are found in Bangladesh.

Center for Policy Dialogue in Bangladesh stated that the volume of waste can be reduced during the production stages if the 4,500 active garment units in the nation increase their efficiency and use the textiles in the best possible ways.