Universal Menswear Ltd. (UML), Bangladesh’s largest formalwear manufacturing plant and a joint venture between Ananta Apparels Ltd. and Time International Trading SRL Romania, has taken a significant step toward environmental sustainability with the commissioning of an 814 kWp rooftop solar power system at its state-of-the-art facility in the Adamjee Export Processing Zone (AEPZ).
The solar installation, operational since 5th July and officially inaugurated on 26th July, underscores UML’s commitment to green industrial practices and operational efficiency. Spanning 60,000 square feet, the system comprises 1,335 Longi 610Wp solar panels and seven SMA 110 kW inverters, with an expected annual energy generation of approximately 950 MWh. This initiative is projected to reduce carbon emissions by around 637 tons each year.
Funded through the Bangladesh Bank’s Technological Development Fund (TDF), the project marks a milestone in UML’s broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy. The company’s dedication to sustainability is further highlighted by its recent achievement of LEED Gold Certification in August 2023, with aspirations to attain LEED Platinum status.
Sharif Zahir, Managing Director of UML, emphasized the significance of the project: “This solar project is a bold step toward a greener future, underscoring our role as a responsible leader in apparel manufacturing.”
Founded in 2010, UML has grown into a leading formalwear producer, with a monthly capacity of 300,000 men’s suits, a workforce of over 6,000 employees, and an annual turnover of USD 100 million. The company supplies prominent global brands including Moss Bros, Marks & Spencer, H&M, Calvin Klein, Ben Sherman, Kenneth Cole, and Zara.
As Bangladesh’s industrial landscape advances, UML demonstrates that high-quality manufacturing and sustainability can go hand in hand, setting a benchmark for the industry’s green transformation.
