Govt presents ‘Green Factory Award-2023’ to 29 companies

The government awarded 29 companies from 12 industries the “Green Factory Award-2023” in recognition of their contribution to raising productivity by utilizing trained labor and environmentally friendly technology in secure settings.

The industries that make up these sectors include knitwear, woven goods, leather (tannery and completed goods), tea, cement, pharmaceuticals, ceramic tiles, manufacturing of electric and electronic goods, plastic, food processing, and textiles.

The awards were presented to the factory representatives during a program celebrating “National Occupational Health and Safety Day 2024.”

Earlier, at Srom Bhaban in the capital, Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, State Minister for Labour and Employment, unveiled the list.

The award-winning factories are:

• Ready-made Garments (Woven): A.R. Jeans Producer Ltd., Mahmuda Attires Limited, Evitex Dress Shirt Limited, Designer Fashion Limited, Southern Garments Ltd.
• Ready-made Garments (Knit): Pakiza Knit Composite Limited, Epyllion Knitwears Limited, Laila Style Ltd., GMS Textile Limited, Genesis Fashions Limited, Auko-Tex Ltd.
• Textiles: Four H Dyeing and Printing Limited, Envoy Textiles Limited, Pahartali Textile and Hosiery Mills.

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the speaker of the parliament, handed over Tk 1 lakh, a medal, a memento, and a certificate to each winner.

Every year on April 28, the International Labour organisation (ILO) honors the “World Day for Safety and Health at Work” to raise awareness of the need to prevent occupational illnesses and accidents worldwide.

Bangladesh has also been commemorating the day following the ILO's guidelines by rewarding enterprises across various industries for their efforts to safeguard the environment and the health of its employees.

According to data from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh now boasts the greenest garment factories based on certifications from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

Of Bangladesh's 215 green factories, 80 are platinum-rated, 120 are gold, 10 are silver, and four are green-rated as per USGBC's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Moreover, 55 of the world's 100 top-rated green buildings are located in Bangladesh.