Solidaridad and ESTex host Webinar on Energy Policy for Apparel Sector

Solidaridad in partnership with ESTex, hosted a webinar titled "Energy Policy for Apparel Sector" to gather feedback from sectoral stakeholders on 17 November 2024. The event brought together over 50 participants from various sectors, including the production and manufacturing industries, fashion brands, associations, government agencies, NGOs, academic institutions, and technical service providers.

The ready-made garment (RMG) industry plays a vital role in Bangladesh's economy but is also a major contributor to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the sector is one of the largest energy consumers in the country. To ensure sustainable growth, it is essential to adopt sustainable practices and improve energy efficiency. This could bring substantial benefits, including cost savings and reduction in carbon emissions. However, the industry faces challenges such as technological and knowledge gaps, and limited investment in energy efficiency.

To address these issues, Solidaridad, with technical partnership from the ESTex Foundation, is developing a Policy Paper on Energy. The paper aims to support Bangladesh's textile and apparel industries by enhancing energy efficiency, encouraging renewable energy adoption, fostering technological innovation, and improving process controls.

The webinar began with an opening speech by Mr. Selim Reza Hasan, Solidaridad's Country Manager, who highlighted the role of the textile and apparel industry in Bangladesh's economy and the need for sustainable energy practices in light of rising energy costs and environmental concerns. He also acknowledged the contributions of the experts involved in shaping the energy policy framework.

Dr. Mohidus Samad Khan, Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET, introduced the session's objectives and encouraged stakeholders to contribute actively to the development of the energy policy. Dr. Ijaz Hossain, a prominent national energy expert, presented a detailed analysis of the RMG sector's energy consumption, the pressure of rising energy costs, particularly from the increased reliance on imported LNG, and the importance of improving energy efficiency to meet international standards and reduce emissions.

Mr. Yameen Farook, an industrial energy efficiency expert, discussed the need for a systematic, integrated approach to energy management within the sector. Md. Abdullah Al Mamun, Assistant Director (Energy Audit & Accreditation) at SREDA, highlighted the importance of standardized energy management practices and the involvement of senior management to drive change within the sector.

During the open discussion, participants shared various insights and recommendations for the energy policy. Dr. Ijaz Hossain concluded the event by summarizing the key discussion points and reiterating the importance of collective efforts to implement sustainable energy practices in the apparel sector.