Manufacturers should focus more on waste management, experts at HSBC webinar

The time has come for the manufacturers to invest more in waste management and recycling of products to ensure the sustainability of the business, experts and entrepreneurs said at a webinar today.

Coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the need for e-commerce, so it is important to invest in digitisation, said Gihan Palihena, director of Asia Product Supply Chain of South Asia Kontoor Brands.

The manufacturers need to invest in waste management too so that we can leave a better planet, he said.

To encourage dialogue on how to support the apparel sector's sustainable transition, HSBC Bangladesh has organised the webinar on "Transitioning towards a circular economy for the apparel sector".

The circular fashion industry is a fast-growing movement to reuse and recycle all materials, eliminating waste and pollution and regenerating the environment in a "circular model".

"Investing in people, developing talent and skills and understanding the value of data and speed are all key to being a market leader," Palihena said.

More and more research is necessary too for innovation, he said.

Along with maintaining the compliances, the environmental issues are also important to be focused on, Palihena said.

"With a goal to ensure sustainable fashion and encourage a circular economy, we look forward to partnering with our customers, industry players and key stakeholders in mobilising finance and accelerating innovation to lead the transition to net-zero carbon emission, he added.

The textile and garments sector is growing strongly in the post-pandemic era and the transition to a circular model, with reuse and recycling, is a really important shift towards sustainability, said Kevin Green, country head of wholesale banking, HSBC Bangladesh.