BGMEA, GRI sign strategic partnership to boost sustainability transparency in garment sector
The partnership formalises collaboration between BGMEA and GRI that began in 2025.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) have signed a strategic partnership to strengthen sustainability transparency in Bangladesh's textile and apparel sector.
The agreement will support the Improving Transparency for Sustainable Business (ITSB) initiative, a multi-year programme to help businesses identify, manage and report sustainability impacts using the GRI Standards, according to a press release.
The partnership formalises collaboration between BGMEA and GRI that began in 2025, with BGMEA supporting transparent and sustainable business practices across the sector.
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It aims to help businesses meet evolving global reporting requirements and the expectations of buyers, investors, regulators, workers and other stakeholders through improved sustainability reporting.
This partnership will engage businesses, regulators, industry associations, and investors in training and workshops to enhance sustainability reporting according to GRI Standards.
The collaboration will also enable Bangladesh's textile and apparel sector to contribute to the development of global sustainability reporting standards through consultations and stakeholder feedback.
The Sustainability Nexus (SusNex), ITSB's training and outreach partner in Bangladesh, will help deliver locally tailored training programmes and stakeholder engagement activities.
According to the release, nearly 300 participants from businesses, associations, regulators and other stakeholders attended ITSB events in May and July, focusing on sustainability reporting.
Bastian Buck, GRI's chief of standards, said the partnership would strengthen the application of the GRI Standards and improve sustainability reporting.
He added that the initiative would also allow Bangladesh's textile and apparel sector to contribute to GRI's Textile and Apparel Sector Standard.
Wasim Zakariah, chairman of BGMEA's Standing Committee on Responsible Business Hub and Sustainability Reporting, said the garment industry had made significant progress in sustainability and workplace safety.
He said the partnership would help businesses strengthen sustainability reporting and impact disclosure while meeting the evolving expectations of international buyers, investors and regulators.
