Md Azahar Khan, the visionary behind Mithela Textiles Industries Ltd, the world’s pioneer in achieving a platinum LEED green rating for a textile unit, emphasised that his commitment to future generations propelled him to establish this ecologically conscious factory.

Addressing the pressing concern of climate change and groundwater depletion, Azahar Khan highlighted how the global business landscape was increasingly prioritising environmental sustainability.

He stated, ‘As an entrepreneur, it is not my prerogative to jeopardise the environment through my business operations. Rather, I bear the responsibility of safeguarding it’.

‘In the contemporary business milieu, embracing environmentally friendly production methods has become imperative to maintain a competitive edge,’ said Azahar Khan, chairman of Mithela Group.

With a growing demand for sustainable products from worldwide consumers, Azahar Khan underscored the necessity of having an eco-conscious production unit.

He elaborated, ‘While the initial investment in establishing an environmentally friendly factory might seem substantial, a comparative analysis revealed that the operational costs were minimised in the green facility due to enhanced efficiency and reduced process wastage.’

Azahar Khan elucidated that the green environment not only augmented the productivity of workers by providing a safer and healthier workspace but also contributed to the well-being of communities residing near the factory by mitigating pollution.

Founded in 2002 in Araihazar, Narayanganj, Mithela Textile achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first textile unit globally to secure the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) in July 2018.

Remarkably, the unit boasted an amazing production capacity of 60 million metres of dyed and printed finished woven fabrics per month.

Considering the textile industry’s designation as a red-category industry, obtaining the LEED certification posed considerable challenges.

Azahar Khan acknowledged, ‘Our industry’s remarkable accomplishment in obtaining the esteemed certification for manufacturing dyed woven materials without emitting harmful toxins showcases our dedication to a cleaner and greener earth.’

Mithela Textiles has strategically established a cutting-edge PVA gel-based biological effluent treatment plant to treat the gray water generated after the dyeing process.

This innovative setup enabled the recycling of 50 per cent of the water for reuse, while the remaining 50 per cent was allocated for irrigation purposes.

The factory’s caustic recovery process reclaimed 90 per cent of caustic for reuse, significantly enhancing sustainability.

The owner revealed that they achieved exceptional energy savings of 68 per cent within the unit, far surpassing the 10 per cent requirement for obtaining LEED platinum certification.

This achievement was attributed to the innovative energy plant within the factory, utilising rice husk combustion to generate steam energy for a fuel-efficient economiser generator, as Azahar explained.

The integration of green technology not only bolstered Mithela Textiles’ efficiency but also led to substantial cost reductions.

‘The transformation towards sustainability within Bangladesh’s clothing industry has been a gradual but impactful trend,’ observed the entrepreneur.

He highlighted a vivid example wherein a factory equipped with automated machinery producing 2200-2300 pants daily, eclipsed the output of a previous 65-machine facility which managed 1200-1300 pants a day.

‘Green factories hold numerous advantages, notably capturing the interest of global buyers seeking eco-friendly production,’ he said.

‘Branded buyers, driven by consumer demands in developed nations, are increasingly seeking sourcing from environmentally-conscious industries,’ he added.

Anticipating a promising future for Bangladesh’s apparel and textile sector, Azahar emphasised the country’s appeal to global buyers shifting their focus towards environmentally responsible production.

Mithela Textiles, as a certified green factory, experienced a surge in orders from a broader spectrum of buyers, including recent entrants from the US who had previously sourced from China.

In an interview, Azahar stressed that as China-shifting orders gained momentum, Bangladesh must uphold high industry standards to seize this opportunity.

Advocating for government support, Azahar urged the development of a fund dedicated to establishing eco-friendly textile industries.

He emphasised that enhancing the production of value-added readymade garment products required the introduction of advanced machinery to elevate productivity.

Despite Bangladesh’s noteworthy $47 billion exports in readymade garments for the fiscal year 2022-23, Azahar underscored the potential to double this amount to $100 billion through value-added product expansion.

The textile sector’s foundation required robust investments, particularly in woven textiles, to secure a larger stake in the global apparel market.

Azahar said by emphasising the country’s imperative to establish a robust backward linkage industry to cater to the surging global demand for man-made fibre-based clothing.

Azahar emphasised that a collaborative effort between banks and the government was crucial, suggesting the extension of tax exemptions to facilitate the establishment of a backward linkage industry for woven segments.

He identified the scarcity of financial resources and skilled manpower as significant obstacles hindering the development of the woven textile sector.

Highlighting the intricacies of the woven industry, Azahar revealed that its costs were substantially higher – around tenfold that of the knit industry. Consequently, potential investors often exhibited reluctance towards producing woven fabrics.

While the knit industry captured the interest of textile sector investors due to its perceived ease, Azahar stressed that the woven sector demanded substantial investments and modern machinery within high-standard factories.

He underscored that, for sustained growth in apparel exports, the focus must shift towards producing woven fabrics, necessitating government support in the establishment of internationally recognised manufacturing facilities.

Azahar further underscored the urgency of addressing energy supply issues, particularly the insufficient availability of gas and electricity.

He lamented that the clothing sector in Bangladesh was missing out on global market opportunities due to these constraints.

Providing an illustrative perspective, he noted that ensuring consistent gas and electricity supply could enable a medium-sized factory to generate foreign currency equivalent to the remittance sent by 10,000 expatriate workers.

Discussing the imperative of embracing green transformations, Azahar stressed that an environment-friendly approach was vital not only to enhance brand loyalty but also to capture a larger market share, as consumers increasingly prioritize sustainability.

He noted a shifting trend among buyers who are actively monitoring textile factories’ adherence to eco-friendly practices, making it essential for conventional factories to adapt to remain viable.

As the landscape evolved, traditional factories might face challenges ahead, with buyers implementing surveillance measures like cameras to monitor factories’ adherence to eco-friendly practices.

Regardless of whether the factories maintain their Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs), Azahar cautioned that the days of conventional factories sustaining market presence could be numbered.