Experts have called for reducing raw material consumption through circular practices in the garment and other industrial sectors, stressing that waste should be treated as a resource to ensure environmental protection and long-term competitiveness.
The call came at the concluding session of a three-day training workshop, titled “CIRCO Track”.
Speakers said circular production can lower costs, create new income streams and help Bangladesh stay competitive in global markets, particularly as the country prepares to graduate from least developed status in 2026.
They noted that producing goods with fewer inputs naturally reduces costs, while converting production waste into new products or raw materials can generate additional revenue, benefiting both businesses and the environment.
Examples from the garment sector were cited, including the use of fabric waste to produce mattresses and pillows, and the recycling of discarded plastic bottles into yarn, practices that are already reducing waste while ensuring commercial gains.
The workshop was organised by international business consultancy firm LightCastle Partners, with support from the Netherlands embassy in Dhaka, and conducted following the globally recognised CIRCO methodology.
The programme was inaugurated on 11 January by Mohammad Sohel, director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
At the closing session, Tanzeela Tajrin, senior policy adviser for private sector development and economic affairs at the Netherlands embassy, said global buyers – particularly within the EU – are increasingly prioritising environmentally responsible production and recycled materials toward 2030.
Training sessions were conducted by Pieter van Os, cofounder of CIRCO International, and Natinee Dora Sai, trainer at CIRCO International Thailand, focusing on the development of circular business models.
Organisers said representatives from 10 garment and textile companies, including small and medium enterprises, leading manufacturers and officials from the BGMEA, participated in the programme.
In the coming months, CIRCO Hub Bangladesh will conduct three more specialised tracks, training 60 participants from 30 companies to serve as circularity ambassadors and support innovation and policy advocacy at the local level.
CIRCO Hub Bangladesh is a strategic platform designed to support small and medium enterprises in the garment and textile sector in transitioning toward circular production, based on an academic framework developed by Delft University of Technology that has been used to train more than 2,500 companies worldwide so far.
