Second ITSB Engagement Advances Transparency Training for Bangladesh’s Textile and Apparel Firms

The Improving Transparency for Sustainable Business (ITSB) initiative, led by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), has held its second major engagement in Bangladesh, drawing more than 100 representatives from across the textile and apparel ecosystem. A virtual roundtable on 9 July 2026 titled “Beyond Compliance – Transparency, Investor Confidence and Business Growth in the Textile & Apparel Sector” attracted nearly 120 participants, while the full-day ITSB Masterclass – Edition II on 11 July at the Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan saw close to 100 attendees.

The programme is backed by strategic partners the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), with training partner The Sustainability Nexus (SusNex) and funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Its goal is to build local capacity for sustainability reporting using GRI Standards, a benchmark increasingly demanded by international apparel buyers and investors.

Discussions focused on practical topics such as energy, emissions, water, circularity, net zero, workforce practices, regulatory alignment and responsible procurement. The Masterclass emphasised experiential learning through group exercises, including an “Impact-to-Disclosure Lab” and “Investor Lens on Disclosures” workshop, where participants translated real business impacts into decision-useful sustainability reports.

What the ITSB Push Means for Bangladesh’s RMG Sector

Responding to Buyer and Investor Demands

For Bangladesh’s garment exporters, which supply major global brands, transparent sustainability disclosures are no longer optional. European due-diligence regulations, codes of conduct and ESG-linked financing terms now require factories to provide credible, comparable data on environmental and social performance. The ITSB series directly addresses this need by equipping factory managers and compliance officers with the skills to report in line with GRI Standards, which are widely recognised by multinational buyers and responsible investment funds.

Building Credibility through GRI Standards

By focusing on material topics such as energy use, water stewardship, circularity and workforce practices, the training helps Bangladeshi firms move beyond basic compliance checklists. Credible, decision-useful reporting strengthens trust with international customers and can differentiate suppliers in a competitive market where buyers increasingly screen for sustainability performance before placing orders.

Addressing the Data Gap in ESG Reporting

A recurring theme across the roundtable and Masterclass was the importance of internal data systems. Many mid-tier and smaller factories lack the digital infrastructure to track resource consumption, emissions or social indicators reliably. The ITSB initiative’s hands-on labs give participants a blueprint for closing that data gap, an essential step if Bangladesh’s apparel industry is to maintain its position as a go-to sourcing destination.

Next Steps for Garment Manufacturers to Leverage Sustainability Reporting

  • Identify the GRI disclosure requirements most relevant to your product categories and buyer contracts – with the initiative highlighting energy, emissions, water and circularity as priority areas.
  • Assign a cross-functional team (compliance, production, finance) to start building a database of resource use and workforce metrics, using the ITSB masterclass frameworks for guidance.
  • Leverage the ITSB network and resources shared by BGMEA and BKMEA to access further training modules, tools and peer benchmarking exercises.
  • Prepare for upcoming EU and brand-specific ESG reporting deadlines by piloting a GRI-based report for one production unit within the next six months.