IFC launches web portal to monitor resource use in Bangladesh’s garments sector

IFC, an associate of the World Bank Group, is rolling out PaCT Portal, a web tool to help calculate resource consumption in the country’s readymade garments industry. This initiative comes as IFC-led Partnership for Cleaner Textile (PaCT II) enters its third year with eight partners working together to lessen the environmental impact of the export-oriented sector.

Bangladesh is the second major apparel exporter on the globe, next only to China, in line with the World Trade Organization. Apparels account for more than 80 percent of the country’s exports. The data-driven monitoring software provides real-time analytics for readymade garment factories, helping them within their efforts to improve make use of resources, such as for example water and energy.  

“The textile industry in Bangladesh continues to be important for IFC,” said Wendy Werner, IFC Country Manager for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. “Through programs like PaCT, we desire to contribute towards increasing sector competitiveness by promoting resource efficiency through ground breaking ways and evolving with global trends.”

The portal premiered at the PaCT gross annual meet held in Dhaka today, where panel discussions focused on issues such as for example low-carbon opportunities in the textile industry. Panelists also highlighted how emerging consumer behavior and choice are now shaping the global apparel market.

Supported by Denmark, Australia, and holland, PaCT’s multi-stakeholder partnership has recently helped the industry save 25 billion liters of water and 2.5 million megawatt hours of energy annually. Launched in 2018, PaCT II works together with 132 factories to look at state-of-the-art efficiency and reduce water, energy, and chemical use to meet up global standards.

“This monitoring tool will continue to work as an analytical information exchange platform to help with users’ decision-making regarding water and energy consumption. It could play a big role in leading the industry towards sustainability and achieve results that are right for the industry, the earth, and our future generation,” said Nishat Chowdhury, Program Manager for PaCT.

Five textile brands - VF Corp, PUMA, Levi Strauss & Co, TESCO, and GAP Inc. - have partnered with the PaCT program. Jeanologia, Radiant Alliance, and EMKAY are the technology providers, while Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) may be the implementing partner.

In a video message, Dr. Rubana Huq, President of BGMEA, said, “The industry has saved plenty of water and energy through the collaborative partnership with PaCT. We would like to think and shape tomorrow for the better and we are able to only do that when you are the very best of partners in the days to come.”