Sustainable Apparel Forum to begin from May 17 in Dhaka

Sustainable Apparel Forum (SAF) will be held in Dhaka, beginning from May 17. The two-day program hosted for the first time by Bangladesh Apparel Exchange will take place alongside the flagship event Bangladesh Denim Expo. SAF will share information on sustainability issues in the apparel industry with 'Making Sustainability Easier' the theme of the event.

The forum will be inaugurated jointly by Bangladesh commerce minister Tofail Ahmed and prime minister’s adviser on power, energy and mineral resources Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, according to Bangladesh media reports.

Based on the theme 'Making Sustainability Easier', the program will encompass five sessions including one opening session. Four sessions will focus on topics including saving water, resources, cost, energy efficiency and sustainable business. SAF aims to increase business in the industry through awareness, said the organisers.

"Presence of already 67 LEED certified green garment factories in the country while 222 more are in the offing is the evidence the sector's steady move towards sustainability," said founder and CEO of Bangladesh Denim Expo Mostafiz Uddin.

Prominent speakers from various parts of the world will share their views on sustainability and the importance of meeting customer's expectations at the event which will also host various specialised workshops and hands-on training sessions.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Dansk Fashion and Textile, Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) of Dutch foreign affairs ministry and GIZ Bangladesh are among others supporting the international event.