Two more Readymade Garment (RMG) factories in Bangladesh have earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

With this, the number of green factories in the country rose to 213 as of Saturday. Among the newly certified factories, both Windy Apparels Limited and Union Sportswear Limited attained Gold ratings with 69 and 73 points respectively.

LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, efficient and cost-saving green buildings.

LEED certification is a globally recognised symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership.

Before awarding the LEED certification, the USGBC considers several criteria, such as transformation performance, energy, water and waste management.

The best performers are rated with platinum, followed by gold and silver.

Bangladesh is the global leader with the highest number of green industries, where 80 are platinum-rated, 119 are gold-rated, 10 are silver and four are without any rating.

The country has been receiving the certificate since 2001.

BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said a total of seven RMG factories received the LEED certification, of which four are Platinum and three are gold-rated.

The achievement has once again bolstered the country’s position as a global leader in sustainable garment manufacturing and it reflects the industry’s vision for the future in the world market, he said.

The increasing number of green factories is a testament to the ongoing effort to implement environment-friendly practices in the RMG factories, he added.

“Through these green investments, we are not only ensuring the sustainability of our industry but also safeguarding our planet for future generations. Let’s maintain the pace for further establishing Bangladesh as a champion of sustainable fashion,” said the BGMEA president.