Utilizing garment waste sustainably
Bangladesh, the second-largest exporter of readymade garments after China, faces a major issue of solid waste from its garment factories, producing around 600,000 tons of textile leftovers annually. While the textile industry contributes significantly to Bangladesh's GDP (10%), it also generates environmental impacts, releasing greenhouse gases and toxic effluents into rivers. Interestingly, about 300,000 tons of this waste is recyclable cotton, but managing it sustainably is still a challenge. To address this, the project aims to collect textile leftovers, recycle them, and empower climate-vulnerable women groups through local partnerships to produce various products like mattresses, blankets, pillows, and floormats within a circular economy framework.
