Going 'green' is good business

IT is interesting to note that a growing number of leading readymade garments (RMG) producers are taking steps to qualify for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification offered in the United States. Apparently, the move is being embraced by greater numbers of RMG companies as another way to catch the attention of that segment of international buyers for whom taking care of the environment is a priority issue. Getting the LEEDS certification requires companies to have green buildings that consume less energy and more emphasis is placed on health and safety of workers.

As reported in this paper, some 14 companies have been awarded certification and another fifty factories are in line to be awarded by LEEDS. The trend is certainly a healthy one, reflecting recognition by the RMG sector that business simply cannot go on as usual. It is a sector that is still going through the process of rebuilding its image in the aftermath of the RANA Plaza building collapse and the fire that killed scores in the TAZREEN incident.

That our RMG sector is evolving to cater to some of the more high-end business means more investments are being made that will introduce a series of measures to counter fire-related incidents and lead to a healthier workforce – a driving force behind the RMG success in the country. With retailers asking more questions about how a company treats its workers and the conditions they work in, it makes sense to be more responsible and the benefits that come from being responsible are obvious.