02/10/2026
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗵’𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲
The ready-made garment (RMG) industry is the backbone of Bangladesh's economy, but it leaves behind massive quantities of post-industrial textile waste, locally known as Jhut.
Here is a quick numerical breakdown of the current landscape:
—𝟒𝟎𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐬: The estimated volume of garment scrap (Jhut) produced annually in Bangladesh.
—$𝟏 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧+: The estimated economic value lost each year by exporting raw Jhut or letting it go to waste instead of recycling it domestically into high-value yarn.
—5%–10%: The current portion of local Jhut that is processed through structured, high-grade recycling channels.
—90%: The vast majority of Jhut that is either downcycled into low-value products (like cheap padding or mattress stuffing), burned for industrial heat, or illegally dumped.
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫?
If Bangladesh transitions to a closed-loop circular economy—recycling 100% of its cotton Jhut back into virgin-quality yarn—the country can dramatically lower raw cotton imports, reduce environmental footprint, and secure a major competitive advantage in sustainable fashion.
Stay tuned for Post 2, where we explore how the local Jhut trade supply chain operates on the ground!
