<div style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">In the first five months of 2024, Bangladesh's readymade garment (RMG) industry has achieved a significant milestone in sustainable fashion, with 12 factories earning LEED certification.</span><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized green building rating system that emphasizes environmental responsibility and energy efficiency.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This recent accomplishment brings Bangladesh's total to 218 LEED-certified green factories, underscoring the country's commitment to green initiatives within the garment sector, according to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Director Mohiuddin Rubel.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of the 218 certified factories, 84 have achieved the highest, platinum rating, 120 have earned gold, 10 silver, and 4 are certified, as reported by the BGMEA.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the first five months of 2024, eight of the newly certified factories received the platinum rating, while the remaining four were awarded gold. Notable performers include S.M. Sourcing with 106 points and Green Textiles Limited Unit 4 with 104 points. Other high scorers include Integra Dresses and Knit Asia Limited, both achieving 99 points, Remi Holdings Ltd with 97 points, and Fatullah Apparels, also scoring 97 points.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bangladesh’s achievement positions the country as a leader in the global sustainable fashion movement, with 56 out of the 100 LEED-certified green factories worldwide located here, according to BGMEA.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This includes 9 of the top 10 and 18 of the top 20 LEED-certified factories globally, based on BGMEA data.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The geographic distribution of these certifications within Bangladesh illustrates the RMG industry's widespread commitment to sustainability.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By proactively achieving LEED ratings, Bangladesh's garments industry is setting a benchmark for environmental stewardship, positioning the country as a key player in the global push for more sustainable manufacturing practices. Source: UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd/fas</div>