RWA Convenes Expert Panel on Textiles in Bangladesh

The textile and apparel sector is the backbone of Bangladesh’s fast-growing economy. It is responsible for about 76 percent of total industrial water use in the country, which is projected to more than triple by 2042. As such a crucial industry for Bangladesh and for the world – Bangladesh is a leading exporter of textiles to the global market – and this sector requires significant, sustained improvements to water use efficiency. 

Earlier this month, the Resilient Water Accelerator (RWA) convened an expert panel at the the Sustainable Apparel Forum in Dhaka to discuss how the textile sector can address these challenges. The panel, Accelerating Financing for Textile Water Stewardship, was moderated by RWA’s Mafruda Rahman and featured representatives from across the textile sector.

(Credit: Sustainable Apparel Forum)

Azizur Rahim Chowdhury, Managing Director at textile producer J.M. Fabrics Ltd., detailed the innovative improvements his factories have made, such as reusing heated water from cooling processes in their boilers, emphasised that some high-impact water solutions can be simple and inexpensive.

Other water stewardship improvements, such as upgrading machinery for water efficiency and reuse, require more investment and buy-in from a variety of stakeholders. Neeltje Kielen, Delegated Representative for Water Affairs at the Dutch Embassy in Bangladesh, noted that efforts like these will necessitate collaboration between the private sector, government actors, and civil society. Lewys Isaac, Primark’s Water Stewardship Manager, agreed, outlining a wastewater reuse project that the company plans to launch in Bangladesh in June 2025, partnering with other brands, the UK government, and NGOs, including WaterAid. 

To finance water stewardship improvements, the banking sector plays an important role. HSBC’s Head of Sustainability, Syeda Afzalun Nessa, spoke about financial products that are gaining traction, including Sustainability-Linked Loans to drive water efficiency. Hosna Ferdous Sumi, Senior Private Sector Specialist at The World Bank, pointed out that, while such products are available in the market, uptake is still significantly lower than it needs to be. To scale these solutions, more brands and manufacturers require a combination of supports, such as greater awareness of the opportunities, more certainty around return-on-investment, and stricter regulations, like the European Union’s new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), to drive changes in industry practices. 

The discussion marked an important convening of key voices across the textile industry, laying the groundwork for further action. The Resilient Water Accelerator will soon convene a working group of experts, policy makers, investors and suppliers to assess the options for reducing water risk and ensuring this vital sector continues to thrive.