The upgrade of the Effluent Treatment Plant represents a breakthrough in sustainable production practices in Bangladesh. By implementing a unique design and technology combination, Epic Group aims to become one of the first in the country to adopt such advanced measures. This will enable Epic Group to reuse a significant portion of treated effluent in its production processes, reducing the reliance on fresh water. Furthermore, the discharged water from the plant will adhere to the highest international standards of water quality.

The investment in the Effluent Treatment Plant upgrade holds significant importance in the context of Bangladesh. With dwindling water quality and increasing scarcity of fresh water, the need for qualitative Effluent Treatment Plants is paramount. Factors such as water volume, pollution levels, available land area, energy source reliability and sustainability, technological expertise, and sludge disposal options must be carefully considered. Epic Group’s new equipment incorporates a hybrid combination of physio-chemical primary treatment, Membrane Bio Reactors (MBR), carbon filters, and Reverse Osmosis (RO) filters, catering to EGMCL’s manufacturing volumes and ambitious targets for reducing fresh water usage and improving outlet water quality. The discharged water will meet the “aspirational standards” set by the Zero Discharge Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) foundation.

Bob Assenberg, Fund Director of the Good Fashion Fund, expressed pride in partnering with Epic Group, a frontrunner in sustainable fashion practices. Assenberg stated, “The investment in their ETP is exemplary for the Bangladesh context, and we aim to share the knowledge and experience gained to ensure replication on a wider scale in the sector. We are looking forward to expanding our footprint in Bangladesh.”

Anita Chester, Managing Director of Laudes India, emphasised that “Reducing the fashion industry’s impact on freshwater ecosystems is critical, and investment into infrastructure that allows for cleaner production and eventually closed-loop water consumption is a key step in that direction”

For decades, Epic Group has been a key player in the apparel industry, first as a major textiles trading house, then as a leader in sourcing quality fabrics, and since 2005 as a state-of-the-art manufacturing company with facilities worldwide across Africa, Asia, UAE, the UK, Jordan, & United States. For more information, visit www.epicgroup.global.

The Good Fashion Fund (GFF), is initiated by Fashion for Good and is a collaboration between Laudes Foundation, The Mills Fabrica and FOUNT complemented by Rabobank as lender to the Fund. The Fund provides long-term USD loans in addition to technical and environmental and social expertise to manufacturers in Asia, primarily India and Bangladesh. Financing is to be used to invest in impact equipment that deliver both economic growth and good fashion practice. The Good Fashion Fund has a blended capital structure with an actual fund size of USD 19 million. The Fund is managed by FOUNT, a leading impact investment firm from the Netherlands.

Current partners of the GFF also include Pratibha Syntex (India), Sri Kannapiran Mills (India) and Progress Apparels (Bangladesh).

About FOUNT

FOUNT is a leading impact investment firm that provides Strategic Advisory and Investment Management services to drive social and environmental impact alongside reasonable financial returns in emerging markets. With active involvement in various sectors across emerging economies, including sustainable apparel, agriculture, clean cooking, and affordable housing, FOUNT is committed to creating positive change. For more information, please visit: www.fount.eu

Media contacts:

Good Fashion Fund
Bernadette Blom – Director
www.goodfashionfund.com
bernadette@goodfashionfund.com

LinkedIn: Good-Fashion-Fund

Link to the Press Release