The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has held a meeting with the French Development Agency (AFD) to discuss a long-term initiative aimed at strengthening chemical management, reducing water pollution and accelerating environmentally sustainable production across Bangladesh’s apparel industry.
The proposed initiative is expected to support more than 100 factories through screening and baseline assessments, while providing capacity-building support to more than 200 factory staff. The programme will also introduce ZDHC tools and licensing, technical assistance and wastewater testing at 25 selected factories.
During the meeting, BKMEA Vice President Mohammad Rashed stressed the need for practical and appropriate criteria to select participating factories so that the programme can generate measurable environmental improvements. He also highlighted the potential of zone-wise central effluent treatment plant (ETP) systems, which could provide shared wastewater-treatment solutions for factories operating in industrial clusters.
BKMEA Director Minhazul Hoque said the initiative should deliver long-term value to the apparel sector and confirmed that BKMEA and its Board of Directors are aligned with the programme. He emphasized that the project should focus on capacity building and technical assistance rather than creating another layer of compliance and audit pressure for factories.
The discussion comes as chemical and wastewater management become increasingly important for Bangladesh’s apparel industry as global brands and buyers place greater emphasis on environmental performance, responsible chemical use and transparent wastewater management.
Also Read : FBCCI Urges Joint China Ties to Boost $38B RMG Sector
The ZDHC framework provides an industry-wide approach covering chemical inputs, production processes and wastewater outputs. Its Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) focuses on preventing hazardous chemicals from entering manufacturing processes in the first place, while its wastewater guidelines provide parameters for monitoring pollutants in discharged wastewater and sludge.
AFD has identified Bangladesh’s textile and leather industries as an important area for reducing effluent pollution. According to AFD, improving sustainable production practices can reduce pressure on water resources, protect ecosystems and biodiversity, and contribute to climate resilience. The agency has identified the ZDHC Foundation as a beneficiary of its Bangladesh project focused on reducing effluent pollution.
The ZDHC approach is particularly relevant because chemical management extends beyond factory operations. The organisation’s chemical-management framework covers chemical formulators, suppliers, manufacturers and brands, with tools such as the ZDHC Gateway and InCheck designed to improve chemical inventory management and MRSL conformance.
AFD representatives therefore highlighted the importance of bringing chemical suppliers into the initiative alongside manufacturing facilities. Greater supplier participation could help factories improve chemical selection, traceability and control at the source, rather than relying primarily on downstream wastewater treatment.
The meeting brought together representatives from BKMEA, AFD, the ZDHC Foundation, ECOPSIS, A&J Corporation Limited and the Bangladesh Apparel Youth Leaders Association (BAYLA). ZDHC was represented by Mariella Noto, Academia & Multilateral Partnerships Director, and S. M. Rayhan Hossain, Country Manager–Bangladesh.
Also Read : Bangladesh, Netherlands Sign Circular Economy MoU
ECOPSIS was represented by Project Director Goufrane Mansour, while A&J Corporation Limited was represented by Project Advisor Engr. Ehsanul Karim Kaiser, Project Manager Engr. ASM Tareq Amin and Deputy Project Manager (Policy and M&E) Enamul Hafiz Latifee. Hasin Arman, First Vice President of BAYLA, also attended the meeting.
For BKMEA, the proposed programme aligns with its broader sustainability agenda. The association’s Green Industry Development Cell has already worked on environmental training, chemical management and green-factory development, while its Sustainability Vision 2030 includes targets related to ZDHC chemical guidelines, lower groundwater use, reduced emissions, energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption.
The proposed programme could therefore mark a shift from compliance-driven environmental management towards a more practical, capability-based model. By combining factory assessments, technical assistance, staff training, chemical supplier engagement and wastewater testing, the initiative aims to help manufacturers identify pollution risks at source and build stronger environmental management systems.
BKMEA said it remains committed to initiatives that strengthen industry capacity, protect biodiversity, reduce water pollution and support the transition towards more sustainable production across Bangladesh’s apparel sector.