Circular practices key to boosting RMG, textile competitiveness: Experts
Organised by LightCastle Partners with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, the 3-day workshop held in Dhaka recently followed the internationally recognised CIRCO methodology
Experts at a circularity workshop titled "CIRCO Track" have underscored the need to reduce raw material use through circular practices, particularly in the ready-made garment (RMG) and textile sectors, saying such approaches can create new revenue streams and enhance business competitiveness.
Speakers emphasised that waste should be viewed as a resource rather than a problem, noting that reusing production waste can lower costs and strengthen Bangladesh's global competitiveness, especially as the country prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in November 2026, according to a press statement.
Organised by LightCastle Partners with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, the 3-day workshop held in Dhaka recently followed the internationally recognised CIRCO methodology. It was facilitated by Pieter van Os, Co-founder of CIRCO International, and Nattinee Dora Sae-Ho, Trainer at CIRCO Hub Thailand. Participants developed outlines of innovative circular business models during the sessions.
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Examples from the garment sector highlighted ongoing circular initiatives, including the production of mattresses and pillows from cut waste (jhut) and the manufacture of yarn from discarded plastic bottles, delivering both economic and environmental benefits.
Trainers noted that the European Union is advancing toward environmentally sustainable production and that global buyers are increasingly shifting to recycled materials, posing both challenges and opportunities for Bangladeshi manufacturers. CIRCO Hub Bangladesh is expected to play a key role in helping local industries meet evolving sustainability standards.
Officials from 10 garment and textile companies participated in the workshop. Over the coming months, CIRCO Hub Bangladesh plans to train 60 participants from 30 companies, developing them as "Circularity Ambassadors" to support innovation and policy advocacy.
Based on an academic framework developed by Delft University of Technology, CIRCO Hub Bangladesh aims to guide SMEs toward circular production practices. Globally, more than 2,500 companies have already been trained under the CIRCO platform.
The programme was supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and CIRCO Netherlands. Mohammed Sohel, Director of BGMEA inaugurated the event while Tanzila Tajreen, senior policy advisor for Private Sector Development and Economic Affairs at the Dutch Embassy, delivered the closing remarks.
