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The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) joined a global alliance for promoting digital labeling in the fashion supply chain.
The alliance led by American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) urges governments around the world to modernise the domestic fashion labeling requirements and support the use of more sustainable digital labels.
More than two dozen of trade bodies including China Chamber of Commerce for Textiles, Fashion Accessories Shippers Association and Vietnam Textile and Garment Association have joined the move.
The BGMEA president Faruque Hassan signed a letter in this regard on Tuesday and called upon the governments to amend national regulations allowing the adoption of fully digital labeling, according to a statement.
By signing this letter BGMEA has aligned itself with its sustainability vision of 2030 which promotes sustainability, circularity and transparency in global fashion supply chain, it added.
Terming rational of digital labeling 'multi-pronged', Mr Hassan said digital labeling would significantly cut labeling waste and help in decarbonisation efforts.
It is estimated that around 343,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) is emitted from labeling waste, which can be eliminated from the industry supply chain.
About 9.17 million kilometer of label tape is produced every year for the global fashion industry's requirement which is enough to stretch between the earth and the moon twelve times each year, added the statement.
While a fully digital labeling solution would cut manufacturing cost and thus make fashion more competitive and affordable, this would also reduce lead time and enable consumers to access more detailed information about the products they purchase, which will ensure transparency and traceability of products.
Keeping the information with the product would increase its longevity in the circular economy resulting in the chance for resale, upcycling, or recycling, it said.
Moreover, digital labeling will also play an effective role in controlling the manufacturing of counterfeit products since every input of the finished goods is expected to come under the digital labeling where all the parties in the supply chain will be identifiable.
The BGMEA said it will thus enable the industry to better protect intellectual property rights (IPR) and such initiative will ensure better governance in global fashion supply chain.
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