Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA)  President Mahmud Hasan Khan on Tuesday sought cooperation from the Hohenstein Group Germany, a leading international service provider specialising in testing, certification, research, and development, for the sake of the industry’s  sustainability and competitiveness.

The BGMEA President also urged Hohenstein to consider reducing the cost of STeP certification for Bangladeshi suppliers, especially for BGMEA member factories, to make sustainable certification more accessible and affordable.

He made the call during a meeting with a delegation from the Hohenstein Group at the BGMEA Complex in Dhaka on Tuesday.

The Hohenstein delegation included Dr Stefan Droste, managing director and group CEO; Julia Mecheels, member of the Advisory Board; and Dr Md Kamruzzaman, managing director of Hohenstein Laboratories Bangladesh Limited.

During the meeting, both sides discussed potential areas of collaboration aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry, particularly in the field of environmental sustainability.

The Hohenstein representatives provided an overview of the organisation’s expertise and activities, including advanced research on functionality and technical textiles, as well as testing and certification services. 

They expressed interest in collaborating with BGMEA on the ‘MADE IN GREEN’ initiative -- a traceable product label for sustainably produced textiles that are safe for human ecology, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible. The label is awarded based on STeP certification of sustainable production facilities.

Discussions also covered potential cooperation on the development of a Digital Product Passport (DPP) to ensure greater product traceability and transparency within the apparel value chain.

BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan emphasised the importance of establishing a unified code of conduct for social and environmental compliance across the apparel industry, noting that it would help reduce audit fatigue among suppliers.

He also highlighted the importance of DNA testing of fabrics to determine the origin of fibers and inquired whether Hohenstein could provide such testing services in Bangladesh.