Sustainability performance secures long-term orders from Lindex

Lindex has sourced from Bangladesh since 1998, and today, Bangladesh is one of Lindex's largest production offices.

A little over 40% of Lindex's total global volume comes from Bangladesh. The product mix is diverse, but four categories dominate: kidswear, lingerie, denim for kids and women, and ladies' wear.

Lindex does not own factories. Instead, it works through long-term partnerships with carefully selected suppliers. At present, Lindex has 16 direct suppliers in Bangladesh operating around 30 production factories, supported by indirect relationships with fabric mills and accessories suppliers.

The business model is disciplined. New factories are evaluated before boarding, operating factories are reviewed regularly, and orders are guided by a combined commercial and sustainability scorecard.

When a supplier improves on people, planet, and product quality-and can demonstrate that improvement with data-Lindex strengthens the relationship and places more business with that supplier.

Lindex's sustainability promise has three parts: Ensure Human Rights, Respect the Planet, and Empower Women. These three ideas guide everyday decisions in Bangladesh.

Ensure Human Rights shows up through careful onboarding, continuous assessment of working conditions, engagement with safety governance bodies, and worker protection pilots.

Respect the Planet shows up through strong expectations on water use and wastewater quality, better chemical input management, and practical support for process efficiency.

Empower Women shows up both inside factories and in the communities where workers live. Inside factories, it means gender sensitive management, menstrual hygiene facilities, and a respectful workplace where women have a voice.

In communities, it means investments in clean water, toilets, and hygiene education that reduce illness and absenteeism and help women and girls thrive.

The most water-intensive parts of Lindex's Bangladesh supply chain are the wet processes in fabric mills and laundries: dyeing, washing, rinsing, and denim finishing. Lindex has set a clear water goal: a 30% reduction in absolute freshwater use by 2030, using 2025 as the baseline year for measurement.

For wastewater, Lindex requires discharge that is stricter than national legislation, and in practical terms, expects suppliers to achieve an aspirational level of performance on wastewater quality and chemical input management.

From completed and ongoing programs, there are solid numbers. In Gazipur, three factories implemented rainwater harvesting, with an estimated three million liters per year collected.

The same factories reached 8,748 workers through hygiene campaigns, trained 4,247 men and 2,779 women in handwashing, and conducted menstrual hygiene sessions for 2,019 women.

Installed factory handwashing facilities serve 5,187 men and 4,150 women. In Savar, three factories added new handwashing stations serving 4,813 men and 5,038 women.

Awareness sessions on handwashing and water safety plans reached 5,247 workers. A further 2,200 women participated in menstrual hygiene sessions, 75 women served as hygiene volunteers, and 31 professionals were trained on rainwater harvesting systems.

Installed factory handwashing facilities serve 5,187 men and 4,150 women/Courtesy

These factory-level actions sit alongside community WASH investments described below and provide a platform for energy and water efficiency upgrades that feed into the climate ambition.

Lindex's primary support is technical. It begins with diagnostics and benchmarking, moves to best practice training and coaching, and then to technology matchmaking.

Where investment requirements are high, Lindex works with partners so that suppliers can access credible vendors, well-designed solutions, and appropriate financing pathways.

While direct capital grants are not the main mechanism, Lindex reduces risk through coordinated pilot projects, vendor introductions, and business commitments that help suppliers plan payback. 

When a supplier demonstrates strong water stewardship, reliable wastewater treatment, credible energy savings, and measured progress toward the climate targets, Lindex responds with better continuity of orders and longer term commitments. 

However, when issues are found, Lindex begins with a corrective action plan that has clear milestones and deadlines. …If progress stalls or intent is poor, orders can be paused and moved elsewhere.

The intent is always to improve first. Disengagement is reserved for cases where the risk is high, and remediation does not happen.

We collaborate through a set of partnerships that together raise the floor and the ceiling of performance.

Through the Sustainable Fashion Platform under the Swedish Embassy and Business Sweden, Lindex connects factories to vetted technology providers and joins sector dialogues on water and energy.

Through WaterAid Bangladesh projects, Lindex has funded and supported community and factory measures in Mirpur, Gazipur, and Savar.

TBS SENIOR STAFF CORRESPONDENT REYAD HOSSAIN PREPARED THE ARTICLE BASED ON QUESTIONNAIRE SENT TO THE AUTHOR

Kazy Mohammad Iqbal Hossain is the South Asia Sustainability Manager and Global Climate Actions Lead at Lindex HK Ltd - Production Offices of AB Lindex