Resilient water accelerator collaborates with Water Aid Bangladesh
In collaboration with WaterAid, the Resilient Water Accelerator (RWA) participated in the Sustainable Apparel Forum 2025. This forum brought together key industry stakeholders to discuss water security and sustainable water management in Bangladesh's textile and readymade garments (RMG) sector.
The discussions underscored the urgent need for innovative water stewardship strategies to support the industry's long-term sustainability.
A recent study by Deloitte, commissioned by RWA, revealed that water use in Bangladesh's textile sector could increase by up to 300% in the coming decades. The findings emphasised the pressing need for investment in water security, resilience, and sustainable business practices. At the forum, RWA experts highlighted the necessity of market intelligence strategies to drive impactful changes in water management.
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A key event feature was a panel discussion led by Mafruda Rahman, RWA's Country Strategy Manager. The discussion focused on Bangladesh's significant investment gap in sustainable water management. Experts estimated that the shortfall could reach up to USD 35 billion, emphasising the need for financial mechanisms and policy interventions to bridge this gap.
During the discussion, Lewys Isaac, Water Stewardship Manager at Primark, detailed the company's initiatives to improve water quality and reduce pollution in its sourcing countries. He highlighted Primark's commitment to freshwater conservation and sustainable water reuse. Azizur Rahim Chowdhury, Managing Director at JM Fabrics, stressed the urgent need for water conservation in the dyeing process, one of the most water-intensive operations in the industry. He called for a shift in mindset to drive meaningful environmental impact. Neeltje Kielen, Delegated Representative for Water at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, pointed to the parallels between Bangladesh and the Netherlands in tackling water management challenges. She advocated for innovative water management solutions and stronger public-private partnerships.
Hosna Ferdous Sumi, Senior Private Sector Specialist at the World Bank, highlighted the importance of enabling market conditions for sustainable water management. She discussed the role of financial instruments and awareness-raising among businesses in promoting better water practices. Syeda Afzalunnesa, Head of Sustainability at HSBC, emphasised the increasing availability of sustainability-linked financing. She urged industries to adopt data-driven targets to enhance access to financial support, particularly for smaller factories struggling to meet blended finance criteria.
As the discussions concluded, RWA reaffirmed its commitment to fostering water resilience in the apparel industry. The organisation plans to establish a dedicated working group to support data-driven, evidence-based solutions for sustainable water management in the textile sector. The Sustainable Apparel Forum 2025 reinforced the need for a collective approach to addressing Bangladesh's water security crisis. With RWA, WaterAid, private sector partners, financial institutions, and government agencies joining forces, the forum marked a significant step toward ensuring a future where water resources are managed efficiently and responsibly in the RMG sector and beyond.
