Global apparel buyers prioritize environmentally friendly LEED-certified green factories, valuing the consistent flow of work orders throughout the year over price considerations, according to Mirza Shams Mahmud Shakti, CEO of SM Sourcing. Speaking at a certificate award ceremony in the city, Shakti emphasized the long-term payback associated with year-round work orders. SM Sourcing was awarded the LEED platinum certificate by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), scoring the world’s highest 106 points out of 110.
Bangladesh has emerged as a significant source of inspiration globally, leading in the establishment of green garment factories, with 209 USGBC LEED-certified factories, including 79 platinum, 116 gold, 10 silver, and others with green certification. The country also tops the list with 54 out of the top 100 and 18 out of the top 20 LEED green factories.
Santanu Dutta Gupta, USGBC Faculty and Associate Director-Market Development from Green Building Council Institute (GBCI) in Dhaka, highlighted Bangladesh’s achievements in the green building sector, gaining recognition not only in Southeast and South Asia but also in the Western world. He noted that global buyers are increasingly choosing Bangladesh for high-volume work orders, shifting from other countries.
Ananta Ahmed, an International Green Building Expert and USGBC Faculty, stressed that LEED is more than a certificate; it is an effective business management system with significant benefits that should not be ignored. He pointed out that understanding LEED concepts, when approached factually, mitigates cost concerns, as the overall cost of LEED green buildings is lower than that of regular buildings.