Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry reached a milestone in sustainable manufacturing, securing 38 new United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certifications in 2025.
With these, the number of LEED-certified green garment factories reached 270, including 114 Platinum and 137 Gold facilities, 15 Silver, and 4 certified factories, the highest in the world.
In 2025, the most factories achieved LEED certification in a single year to date, according to data compiled by Bangladesh Apparel Exchange, a platform focused on research in the RMG sector.
Of the 38 newly certified factories in 2025, 22 achieved LEED Platinum, 11 LEED Gold, and 5 LEED Silver.
Moreover, none of the factories settled for basic certification, reflecting a clear shift from compliance-driven sustainability toward excellence-driven green transformation, said the BAE.
Mohiuddin Rubel, managing director of the BAE, said that the momentum gained in 2025 reflected broader global dynamics.
As international buyers, regulators, and consumers increasingly demand lower environmental footprints, Bangladeshi manufacturers are proactively aligning with evolving standards such as carbon efficiency, water stewardship, energy optimization, and climate-resilient infrastructure, said Rubel, also a former director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
‘LEED certification has thus become not only a sustainability benchmark, but a strategic competitiveness tool for the industry. This achievement signals a deeper transition as it demonstrates that Bangladesh’s RMG sector is preparing itself for the next phase of global sustainability requirements, including EU regulations, carbon pricing mechanisms, and digital transparency frameworks, while continuing to deliver at scale,’ he added.
According to industry insiders, 550 factories are now awaiting USGBC LEED certification.
Bangladeshi factories have been obtaining LEED certification since 2011.
The USGBC honours factories based on several criteria: transformation performance, energy, water, and waste management. The best performers are rated platinum, followed by gold and silver.
Industry insiders said that these criteria enable green factories to significantly reduce operational costs over time, even though they may initially incur higher setup costs.
According to apparel manufacturers, the move towards green factory buildings helped regain Bangladesh’s image after the Rana Plaza tragedy, which claimed 1,134 lives and left more than 2,000 injured.
