Increasing green footprints: Indications of transformations in the socio‐economic spaces of Bangladesh

In recent decades, Bangladesh has seen significant environmental degradation and the loss of its GDP, which has had a detrimental effect on public health, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, industrial development, and environmental services. The unusually high temperatures, humidity, and unpredicted rainfall gave rise to disease like dengue and affecting peoples mental health. However, the government, as well as public and private groups, are undertaking some phenomenal efforts to help reduce environmental degradation and raise the number of green footprints. The objective of this article is to examine the green initiatives, strategies, and policies of Bangladeshi organizations in enhancing green footprints in the socio‐economic spaces, through comprehensive content analysis of various newspapers, journal articles, government reports, and company annual reports. The aim of this article is to trace out the evidences of change in the socio‐economic fabric of the society. The primary focus of the article on the environment friendly business activities, which eventually bring social changes. The article found that green HRM, green business, MFS, green corporate culture is increasingly been seen in the society, which indicate silent changes. Bangladesh has put regulations and programs into place to lessen carbon emissions and safeguard sensitive coastal areas. It is noteworthy for demonstrating a strong dedication to improving sustainable development and environmental preservation. Many organizations in Bangladesh have also received the prestigious Asia's Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards for their outstanding zeal to ensure positive environmental changes in the society. Moreover, large proportion of Bangladesh's energy mix comes from renewable energy sources, leading to the installed renewable energy capacity of 579 MW. Additionally, the government has announced plans on replacing traditional transport methods with electric or hybrid vehicles. Bangladesh has further solidified its position as the global leader in green garments factories, as the country has 176 such facilities that have received the USGBC's LEED accreditation. The article placed a strong emphasis on particular policy proposals, including the adoption of the circular economy, the digital economy, sustainable finance, car‐sharing systems, renewable energy sources in manufacturing and workplaces, and environmentally friendly practices in both public and private organizations.


INTRODUCTION
Bangladesh has experienced a fast social and economic improvement in the recent decade, albeit at the expense of substantial environmental harm.Since 1980, the World Bank and the Government of Bangladesh have collaborated to promote the sustainable utilization of the environment, environmental assets, and the blue economy.World Bank is assisting the government in identifying policies and investment opportunities to strengthen the country's transition to a green growth development path, adopting the Eighth Five-Year Plan, the Delta Plan, the Perspective Plan 2041, and the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan.The country has made significant strides in developing environmental policies, standards, and laws.Despite this progress, Bangladesh has seen substantial environmental degradation and natural capital loss in recent decades, negatively impacting public health, agriculture, forests, fisheries, industrial growth, and environmental services. 1However, there are some incredible efforts being undertaken by the government and public and private organizations to assist in ameliorating environmental damage and increasing the green footprints.The objective of this article is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the green initiatives of Bangladeshi organizations in achieving the environmental sustainability goals and to highlight the evidences of the green footprints in the socio-economic spaces of Bangladesh.
It is believed that at least 19 million Bangladeshis rely on forests for a living.Rapid land use changes endanger the country's surviving forests, which serve as a safety net for the poor and provide protection against climate change in coastal regions.Approximately half of the population also earns their living through 9 million micro-enterprises, which might influence the environment through numerous pollutants.Furthermore, Bangladesh's temperature increased by 0.5 • C on average between 1976 and 2019.In April 2023, Bangladesh witnessed the highest temperature of 40.4 • C in 58 years. 2 Dhaka North City Corporation, in fact, has appointed a chief heat officer (CHO) to manage battle heat in Dhaka.A chief heat officer is an individual who leads efforts to mitigate the escalating threat of severe heat imposed by climate change. 3Summers are becoming hotter than average, winters are getting warmer, and the monsoon is becoming more unforeseeable than usual. 4Environmental deterioration costs the economy around $6.5 billion yearly or 3.4% of Bangladesh's GDP.Additionally, air and water pollution accounted for roughly 28% of all fatalities in Bangladesh, ranking the country 162nd among 180 polluting nations in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) report. 1 However, climate change is not only limited to cyclones, temperature rise, floods, and economic loss but also poses severe hazards to people's mental and physical health.According to "Global Emotion Report," Bangladesh is the seventh saddest country in the world, compelling proof of how anxiety and depression are destroying people's psychological well-being. 5It has been observed in a study that cases of depression are likely to increase in dry seasons, while anxieties might increase during the monsoon.In addition, the rising temperature and humidity in Bangladesh make it ideal for mosquitoes to breed, raising the risk of dengue.In 2019 Bangladesh had 77% of dengue-related deaths, which is reported to be the highest since the year 2000.The exceptionally high heat and humidity that year and three times the regular rainfall in Dhaka attracted more Aedes.Therefore, adverse mental and physical health outcomes will escalate as climate change increases. 4Given the existing situation, Bangladesh will find it challenging to achieve the standards for attaining sustainable development goals if no actions are taken. 1As a result, Bangladesh requires adequate implementation of climate change mitigation measures and increased knowledge and incentives to drive public and corporate institutions to take appropriate action.
However, the issues mentioned above can be resolved if governmental, corporate, and nonprofit organizations join the effort to use green techniques in different departments, including operations, human resource management, finance, and marketing.Green finance is the creation of financial instruments such as green bonds, green house mortgages, green loans for commercial buildings, environmental home equity programs, "go green" auto loans, SBA expedited loans, and climate credit cards.As a result, individuals can be inspired to invest in new technologies and inventions, such as renewable energy, and to contribute to the reduction of environmental deterioration. 6Additionally, Bangladeshi consumers are increasingly getting inclined towards digital payments 7 which is fostering the development of a cashless society.It seems logical to hypothesize that cashless payments are greener, based on the idea that abandoning the use of physical currency will reduce the environmental cost of cash.For larger circular economy advantages, a less cash-based economy may as well support some possible systemic benefits of sharing platforms and recycling programs and help conserve some non-renewable and visible resources. 8Similarly, green marketing objectives include branding, packaging, and communicating the advantages of sustainable products to attract and keep green customers and achieve sustainability objectives.It will help persuade people to buy sustainable products, be more environmentally conscious, and more responsible towards waste management. 9Moreover, green operations ensures both environmental and quality compliance in product management, reducing poor business reputation from ecologically irresponsible goods.It promotes closed-loop operations in process management, such as recuperation and recycling, with the goal of reducing waste, capturing residual value of goods, and deploying environmental technologies and cleaner transportation in the downstream supply chain to prevent pollution. 10Furthermore, to reduce emissions from urban personal transportation is car sharing.According to a study, those who use car sharing instead of owning an automobile of their own may reduce their carbon footprint by about 40%. 11hese behaviors are a few examples of preserving natural resources, and establishing eco-friendly manufacturing and consumption methods.In this context, "green business" has become a famous catchphrase in recent years.A green or sustainable organization strives to adhere to environmentally friendly norms and regulations, which include sustainable growth through green public investments, resource efficiency, and an effort to provide products and services with low greenhouse gas emissions and minimal pollution. 12nterestingly, Bangladesh has devised some phenomenal strategies to slow down climate change.The country's understanding of the necessity of implementing green practices to save the nation's natural resources, lessen pollution, and lessen the effects of climate change has grown in recent years.Bangladesh's ambition to go digital and rely on information technology to operate every industry has assisted in some way to reduce environmental pollution since a technical perspective exists that digital and IS technology minimizes the use of resources that are harsh to the world's climate. 13The government has undertaken several inclusive efforts unifying people, government, economy, society, and cities to build Bangladesh to the level of a developed and sustainable country through the new concept of "Smart Bangladesh" by 2041. 14his includes the introduction of digital banking, mobile financial services, the rise of e-commerce, and application-based services.Many organizations have also started adopting contemporary concepts into their business models, such as sustainable finance, green workspace, and recycling.The technologically advanced era has made the transition more efficient.
A number of articles have only focused on causes of climate change and processes to mitigate this problem.However, a few have explored the evidences of the green efforts been taken by many organizations in Bangladesh that are aiding in climate change mitigation.It is imperative for all the stakeholders to understand where Bangladesh stands in terms of sustainable development and what further actions should be taken to accomplish sustainable development goals by 2030.This article highlights the evidences of how the organizations in Bangladesh are increasing the green footprints, indicating a change in the socio-economic space.It will also look into the green efforts being put in by a number of companies utilizing the benefits of information technology and digitally equipped consumers.

Methodology
In order to get information regarding the green initiatives, the article utilized archival method.Archival research method includes a wide range of techniques to facilitate the investigation historical documents, data sources, and other written materials. 15Journal publications and United Nations reports on the issue that is relevant to the project are utilized to elicit perspectives from other writers.Furthermore, newspaper articles on green practices in Bangladesh and scenarios of implementing sustainability in various firms were thoroughly reviewed in order to shed light on Bangladesh's approach to embracing green footprints.In order to promote sustainability, lower carbon emissions, and embrace environmentally friendly practices, organizations in Bangladesh use a variety of tactics, which are the subject of our investigation.The article covers a range of sustainability-related topics, such as the use of renewable energy, waste management, carbon reduction, technological advancement and other activities meant to improve environmental sustainability.

SCENARIOS OF GREEN FOOTPRINTS IN BANGLADESH
The article meticulously revealed various green initiatives, strategies, and policies adopted by the organizations in Bangladesh that significantly augmented the green footprints in the socio-economic spaces, in accordance with the stated objective.The findings unveiled a number of notable sustainability trends and analyzed the multifaceted sustainable practices through extensive content analysis of journal articles, newspaper, and company annual reports.
The article exemplified the green manufacturing practices, particularly green garments factories in Bangladesh, which highlights the apparel industry's efforts towards ensuring eco-friendly production processes.Additionally, the intensive strides towards waste management, which includes effective waste segregation and recycling mechanisms, underscores the proactive approach in reducing challenge of climate change.Moreover, organizations like Grameenphone explored the concept of green workplaces, showcasing strong commitment towards ensuring environmentally friendly work environment.The article further uncovered the evolution of sustainable financing, revealing how financial intuitions are propelling towards ecological preservation, thus contributing to the holistic approach to sustainability.Finally, the article delves into the efficient use of technology by MFS, internet-banking, e-commerce, and carpooling services in signifying a transition towards digital economy and reduction in carbon footprints.
Brief descriptions of the aforementioned practices and endeavors have been presented below.

Green manufacturing
The management of environmental elements that might have a negative impact on the climate is a component of green manufacturing.Researchers and professionals are now focused on the effects of GHG emissions on the environment due to the worrying state of global warming.Green efforts must be implemented at all stages, beginning with the design and continuing through the manufacture and implementation of goods or processes.Through various government programs, stringent laws, and policies to support the Green Manufacturing projects, awareness of "greening" should also be increased among producers and customers. 16Global long-term industrial growth is also significantly fueled by the green industry trend.It is an essential component in Bangladesh's effort to meet the SDGs by 2030.Economic success must be accomplished while keeping environmental concerns in mind since the world is dealing with an environmental crisis that has a wide range of effects.Furthermore, because the world is transitioning to a greener economy, businesses are putting policies in place that help this goal.Interestingly, the textile, cement, and electronics sectors, as well as other enterprises, practice these principles and incorporate green ideas in Bangladesh. 17There are now about 171 green RMG factories in Bangladesh, which has made considerable strides towards greening its RMG sectors.These "green factories" may have a greater initial investment cost, but over time, operational costs were significantly lowered.Green manufacturing may use less energy and water while producing less carbon dioxide, according to the BGMEA, providing environmental safety.Industry insiders claim that Bangladesh's garment industry is poised to take the lead globally by solving important issues including sustainability, climate change, groundwater depletion, efficiency, and many more.BGMEA officials described Bangladesh as a "green field" for investment in the booming garment sector, stating that their goal is to build a sustainable, energy-efficient, and environmentally sustainable apparel business and get more recycling, circular economy, and innovation. 18

Waste management
The management of solid waste is a serious issue for Bangladesh.By 2025, waste generation per person is forecasted to be 0.75 kg/day, with a potential annual total of 21.07 million tons.Additionally, it has been shown that enforcement agencies are unable to put the 3R procedures for waste management into effect. 19To promote environmental sustainability, gender inclusion, and economic development in Bangladesh, Pcycle, a social company run by a group of young people who collaborate with local communities, began offering innovative solutions for waste management by recycling waste materials.They keep separate bins for moist and dry garbage as part of the waste segregation procedure.The housekeepers are instructed to distinguish between solid and organic waste and make crafts out of solid waste by hand.They create knickknacks, jewelry, and cup holders out of plastic and other solid wastes, which enables them to earn from upcycling.The local market later purchases the upcycled goods, which greatly aids the female housekeepers in their efforts to make some additional income by selling their crafts made from waste materials like plastic.According to Mehedi Hasan Bappy, the organization's founder, most people in Bangladesh are unaware of the significance of everyday waste sorting, disposal, and recycling.As a result, Pcylce launched its "Clime Plus" campaign to split the waste in their region into biodegradable and non-biodegradable forms in order to address this problem. 20dditionally, Pcycle used social media to actively raise awareness with virtual campaigns like #WasteInMyBag, which implored internet users to keep their daily non-biodegradable waste instead of dumping it in the streets.Pcycle wants to create a culture of recycling that includes upcycling and dry recycling to create new ways to make money.In order to recycle and make use of resources that often end up in landfill, they wish to increase the types and quantities of dry waste.Additionally, it will assist in bringing in more transformation in behaviors in terms of waste creation and management and benefiting society in order to assure value chain growth. 20

Green workplace of grameenphone
A study revealed, employee environmental behavior has a significant impact on determining employee wellbeing and is also linked to self-esteem's mediating influence on wellbeing as well as perceived organizational support for employees' environmental activities.According to its findings, self-esteem positively moderates the relationship between green behavior and self-worth as well as the entire intermediary mechanism by which green behavior influences employee wellbeing through increased self-esteem. 21The biggest telecommunication company in the nation, Grameenphone, is one example of such a company which encourages employee green behaviors and activities.Grameenphone's commitment to a sustainable environment is best demonstrated by its eco-friendly corporate headquarters, GPHouse.GPHouse, a self-sufficient office building inaugurated in November 2010, generates its electricity, recycles its water supply, and uses smart lighting to save energy. 22y transforming their older solar generators into hybrid grid-solar network systems, Grameenphone also encourages the efficient use of non-renewable resources.According to a study, the firm upgraded 36 solar generating plants year 2021, saving 197,100 liters of gasoline and lowering carbon dioxide emissions by 263 tons annually.The company has also chosen to switch from lead-acid to lithium-ion batteries, which reduces carbon emissions by 600 tons.Instead of using fuel-powered electrical generators, they rely on backup electricity provided by strong batteries during load shedding.According to reports, switching to a lithium-ion battery system reduces carbon emissions by 291 tons which is congruent to Grameenphone's intention to cut carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. 22oreover, in order to solve national environmental challenges, including waste management, water conservation, and natural catastrophes, Grameenphone has enhanced partnerships with stakeholders since 2021.In honor of Green Week 2022, Grameenphone initiated a campaign called "Green Pledge," which discussed the effects of climate change and how recycling and decreasing waste might result in an eco-friendly lifestyle.Grameenphone intends to maintain 100% wastewater recycling annually, lowering its water footprint and improving distant people's access to clean and safe water.Further, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, the company's defining environmental philosophy, tackles issues with conventional garbage and e-waste.Impressively, by the end of 2021, the firm had assisted in the recycling of almost 91 tons of electronic debris, including outdated technology and antennas.Grameenphone carries out its recycling programs at home and abroad in compliance with ISO 14000, OSHAS 18000, and R2 requirements. 22The business recycled over 80,000 lead-acid batteries in 2021, reinforcing its commitment to environmental sustainability.Grameenphone stands as an exemplary environmentally responsible corporation because of its efforts to create a better future.By switching to renewable energy generation and recycling waste, Grameenphone is laying the groundwork for improved use of green technologies in Bangladesh's tech and telecommunications sector. 22These green efforts of Grameenphone have a significant impact on their employees and encourage them to adopt green behaviors and contribute to the development of the environment.

2.4
Launching of e-SIM Grameenphone has established impressive milestones with the introduction of e-SIM, which is integrated into a mobile device and enables communication with the operator of choice without purchasing a physical SIM Card.Although it functions just like a traditional SIM, it does not need a physical card and can only be used with devices that already have built-in e-SIM compatibility.Numerous providers offer e-SIM, allowing subscribers to store and load numerous SIM cards globally without needing conventional SIM cards.It brings convenience for telecommunication users and also has a favorable effect on the environment due to decreased use of plastic. 22

Sustainable financing
The world is concerned about the habitat, economy, way of life, and future generations due to the pinnacle of climate change and its adverse effects.The situation is no different for the banking industry as well.Banks must be unambiguous and precise about how their services and products add value to their clients, investors, and society as societal expectations evolve.In light of this, the United Nations Environment Programme for Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) has made a commendable effort to alter the banking approach by establishing a framework called the Principles of Responsible Banking (PRB), which includes 23 : 1. Alignment: Alignment: This concept will ensure that the corporate strategy is in line with societal objectives, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, and other national and regional frameworks, as well as the requirements of individuals.2. Impact and target setting: Financial institutions shall constantly improve their positive influences while minimizing their detrimental effects and controlling the risks to people and the environment due to their operations, products, and services.3. Clients and customers: Financial institutions shall responsibly collaborate with their customers and clients to promote sustainable business practices and allow economic activities that foster shared prosperity for the present and future generations.4. Stakeholders: In order to meet further societal objectives, financial institutions shall proactively and appropriately consult, engage, and work with relevant stakeholders.5. Governance and culture: Financial institutions should put into practice the pledges of UNEF FI members through efficient governance procedures, management programs, and a culture of sustainable banking.6. Transparency and accountability: Financial institutions must regularly assess how the principles are applied individually and collectively.They must be transparent and accountable for their positive and negative effects on society's objectives.
The financial industry must demonstrate its unwavering commitment and take concrete steps to support the movement.Unquestionably, green finance offers an alternate source of funding.Moreover, to the need and necessity for a sustainable economy, certain banks and financial institutions should form a partly green portfolio and create an overall sustainable portfolio. 23An example of a financial institution that has adopted the concept of green financing is IDLC, a non-bank financial institution (NBFI) in Bangladesh.
IDLC has always been eager to devote its resources to improving the lives of its internal and external stakeholder groups and maximizing its profitability.By launching various projects in several sectors, IDLC has reaffirmed its commitment to help promote better environmental and social sustainability.Effluent treatment, recycling, biogas production, renewable energy, energy-efficient technologies, and green building are some of IDLC's green finance activities. 24dditionally, Bangladesh has advanced significantly in the field of information technology.The government has implemented several growth-oriented policies to utilize the country's abundant human resources, which has resulted in multiple IT innovations and digital entrepreneurship, which is due to the government's recognition of the economic benefits of the expansion of the ICT sector. 25 Few examples of business initiatives that were implemented leveraging the development of ICT are discussed in the next section.
The efforts that are aiding in the enhancement of Bangladesh's green footprints are highlighted in Figure 1 presented below.

DIGITAL BANGLADESH: FORGING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
One of Bangladesh's aspirations is to create a "digital Bangladesh," which would guarantee peoples' democracy and rights, transparency, accountability, the establishment of justice, and the delivery of government services to every door while also maximizing the use of information technology with the ultimate aim of enhancing the average person's day-to-day lifestyle. 26Information and communication technology (ICT) has the potential to significantly reduce the range of issues that many nations across the world are now facing in the energy and environmental sectors.For instance, ICT enables both rich and developing nations to address issues such as waste management, energy constraint, biodiversity loss, and climate change.Bangladesh's government must make sure that, together with other energy measures, the impact of ICT on the energy sector is maximized if Bangladesh is to have long-term energy security.The government should take advantage of the youth's enthusiasm for ICT in Bangladesh by providing stable electricity and power for ICT applications like grid management, load analysis, sensors for remote measurement, chips and controllers for monitoring, smart meters, and automated dispatch software. 27ue to the nation's continued massive energy material imports, there has been recent and intense fuel turbulence in the country.Even though the growth of Bangladesh still heavily depends on imported fuel supplies, the country has been working to become energy self-sufficient.Moreover, the usage of solar energy and other green energy sources has increased, which has been a global aim for protecting the environment and halting climate change.It is interesting to note that Bangladesh has contributed to these efforts to create a green society and has invested in biomass and hydroelectric facilities along with solar and wind energy sources. 28Hence, Bangladesh is moving towards sustainability in energy consumption.
Moreover, utilizing information technology in each service has given rise to the concept of going paperless.In 2021, Bangladesh joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in order to minimize obstacles in cross-border trade and speed up customs procedures, ushering in the era of paperless trade. 29Additionally, since the number of ATMs, POSs, CDMs, and CRMs has increased dramatically nationwide during the past several years, digital and paperless banking in Bangladesh has flourished.According to bankers, the COVID-19 outbreak and the influx of young consumers have fueled the expansion of internet banking across the nation, particularly in remote regions, where people avoided branch visits out of fear for their safety, according to Tapoch K Das, chief financial officer (CFO) of Mercantile Bank Limited, the coronavirus epidemic altered human behavior during the past 1.5 years, encouraging people to adopt paperless banking services throughout the nation. 30Client convenience has dramatically contributed to the growth of online banking and mobile financial services, which has led to the development of environmentally friendly solutions to the global issue of climate change.
Additionally, the COVID-19 epidemic and the advancement of ICT have acclimated individuals to using digital remedies for any crisis.Many companies decided to provide their employees the option to "Work from Home" (WFH) 2-3 days a week.For instance, Standard Chartered Bangladesh has launched several programs designed to reduce energy use and increase efficiency throughout all of the bank's branches.The bank announced WFH on Sundays, virtual meetings, flexible rosters to ease commuting, and a 50% decrease in paper usage to cut energy consumption and import dependency. 31,32herefore, many government and private entities in Bangladesh have taken incredible steps to address environmental issues, which also fosters the accomplishment of the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.The remainder of this section explains the services that emerged in Bangladesh due to the country's enormous ICT development and how they help in combating climate change, which ultimately serves as concrete evidence that Bangladesh is slowly progressing towards environmental sustainability but indisputably.

e-Commerce
e-Commerce sometimes referred to as electronic commerce, describes online transactions, such as when people and businesses purchase and sell goods and services with the help of technology.Other activities covered by "e-commerce" include online auctions, online banking, mobile financial transactions, and online ticketing. 33According to a Dublin-based trade research organization, the size of the e-commerce business in Bangladesh was around Tk56,870 crore in 2021 and would be over Tk1.5 lakh crore by 2026.The research institute claims that registered e-commerce businesses, unregistered online platforms, and trading sites based on social media are all included in the report Bangladesh B2C E-commerce Market Report 2022. 34Intriguingly, during the epidemic, when people began to rely on technology, customer confidence in online shopping considerably improved.In the middle of the onslaught of orders caused by the country-wide lockdown, online firms that operate food stores hardly had time to stop and breathe. 35Therefore, technological advancements and digitization have genuinely given the sector the ability to perform things that were thought impossible only a few decades ago.However, due to excessive packing, this change will cost the environment.The packaging of goods contributes significantly to the CO 2 emissions associated with the production of plastics, harming ecosystems and contributing a tremendous quantity of waste to landfills.Two hundred forty-one million tons of shipping cartons are made from 3 billion trees pulped each year, while only 14% of the 86 million tons of plastic packaging produced worldwide each year is recycled.Bangladesh's ecology is under grave threat from this challenge, considering the country's rapid expansion in the e-commerce industry. 36However, the online grocery retailer Chaldal decided to switch from cheap plastic packaging to more expensive, ecologically friendly material like cloth bags, where customers can give the bags to the delivery person or reuse them for subsequent orders.The director of operations at Chaldal stated, "Adopting reusable bags when people buy groceries is a terrific method to decrease pollution.People frequently leave supermarkets with numerous plastic bags, which are detrimental to the environment."This is one of the reasons Chaldal has decided to reduce plastic bags by 70%.Chaldal's strategies can work as a compelling lesson for other e-commerce firms willing to take the challenge of reducing plastics. 37Since e-commerce plays a vital role in the country's economy, it would add more value if the services could be provided and availed sustainably.In addition to using the power of information technology, some organizations actively take part in efforts to prevent climate change.While some businesses make their workspaces green, others use frequent awareness campaigns to urge staff to behave responsibly towards the environment.The next portion of this article discusses these instances of a few organizations.

Internet banking and mobile financial services
Online banking, sometimes referred to as internet banking, was first implemented in Bangladesh 20 years ago.However, as people were forced to use the internet to access money from the comfort of their homes due to the coronavirus outbreak, the pace has intensified.It accepts debit transactions like utility bill payments, premium payments for insurance, dues for clubs or associations, and equal monthly installment payments.The BEFTN also handles the majority of government wages, social benefits, social safety net payments, and other payments.According to official data, internet banking transactions increased by more than 61% year over year in November 2022 in Bangladesh as more consumers chose to conduct financial transactions using digital technology. 38These procedures lessen the need for paper while opening new bank accounts or making financial transactions since the relevant data may be gathered via digital platforms.
Additionally, the Bangladesh Bank awarded licenses for mobile financial services as part of the efforts to achieve the Vision 2021 target.It sought to include unbanked individuals in the official financial system, increase financial intermediation, and promote economic growth.Due to its accessibility and use of a safe medium of exchange, MFS has quickly gained acceptance and is transforming the way money is transacted.Notably, the tech-savvy population, mobile connectivity, and internet penetration have all actively contributed to the sector's positive expansion.Bangladesh has experienced a tremendous rise in digitization in recent years, gradually altering the shape of the nation's socioeconomic characteristics and propelling it into the digital age. 39People who cannot hold a bank account or choose to avoid its complications have options of availing the MFS.In addition, MFS and online banking have contributed to the development of cashless finance as a result of Bangladesh's IT sector's extraordinary improvement and role in the country's transition to a digital economy.

Carpooling services
Carpooling is frequently seen as a trend in which numerous passengers on the same route share a single privately owned car.This approach aids in increasing energy efficiency, lowering pollution levels, and even reducing the number of automobiles on the road.Several studies have found that carpooling can reduce GHG emissions by approximately 4%-5%. 40Another research finding also stated that employees carpooling both on the way to work and home can decrease 22%-28% CO 2 emissions. 41Following this idea, other firms in Bangladesh, such as Standard Chartered Bangladesh, encouraged carpooling among its employees to combat the impending economic collapse in 2023 and climate change.Moreover, due to their cost-effectiveness and environmentally friendly service, carpooling services like shuttle and Uber pool have gained significant customer acceptance.Shuttle offers services with a 12-seater minivan to make traveling for women more convenient and affordable.The CEO of Shuttle, Reyasat Chowdhury, stated that the company guarantees safety while keeping costs reasonable for customers.Additionally, it lessens carbon footprint since at least 10-12 people travel together instead of utilizing individual fuel-powered automobiles. 42

HOW GREEN PRACTICES ARE AIDING TO ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG)
Green practices are being adopted in Bangladesh, which is assisting the country in moving closer to achieving SDGs, a set of 17 global objectives embraced by the United Nations in 2015 to eradicate poverty, safeguard the environment, and promote peace and prosperity for all. 43Some of the ways in which green practices are aiding in the achievement of the SDGs in Bangladesh include: Goal 7-Affordable and Clean Energy: The utilization of sustainable electricity sources, such as solar and wind power, helps to lessen the nation's dependency on fossil fuels and contributes to the attainment of this goal.Goal 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities: Cities in Bangladesh may become more livable and sustainable through implementing green practices, such as the use of energy-efficient buildings and the promotion of sustainable transportation choices.Goal 12-Responsible Consumption and Production: Eco-friendly manufacturing and consumption practices, such as waste minimization and the use of recycled materials, will aid in the accomplishment of this objective.Goal 13-Climate Action: By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting afforestation and reforestation initiatives, Bangladesh may lessen the effects of climate change and move closer to achieving this goal.
In general, Bangladesh's attempts to achieve sustainable development and build a more environmentally conscious society are greatly aided by the adoption of green practices.SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS In addition to adopting the idea of sustainability, organizations in Bangladesh also appeared on the list of award winners.British American Tobacco Bangladesh has been recognized for its outstanding contributions to environmental, social, and governmental policies by receiving the prestigious Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Award 2022 in the "Top Sustainability Advocates in Asia" Category.The ACES Awards have flourished since its inception in 2014 to rank among Asia's most coveted honors.The Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards has carefully hand-selected the top organizations as the deserving award recipients for its 9th edition in order to recognize the brilliant innovation, competence, and tenacity of the industry trailblazers.As a sustainability award winner, BAT Bangladesh has shown how putting long-term sustainability plans into practice enables companies to seize opportunities and mold their post-pandemic future.Moreover, the firm plans to have carbon-neutral operations by 2030, 100% renewable power by 2050, and net-zero emissions across its value chain.Bangladesh understands the gravity of the water crisis and accepts responsibility for providing excellent water management at all organizational levels. 44urthermore, the Sustainability Leadership Award has been granted to 18 textile manufacturers for their incredible work in the areas of social standards, environmental excellence, and innovative excellence.Envoy Textiles and Zaber & Zubair Fabrics received awards for environmental excellence, while Color City and Universal Jeans were recognized for reducing water consumption.On the other hand, Matin Spinning Mills, SIMCO Spinning and Textiles, and Karupannya Rangpur were honored for recovering textile waste.This award's primary goal is to honor the finest in the RMG sector and encourage compliance, which significantly enhances the perception of Bangladesh's RMG industry and inspires more entrepreneurs to pursue sustainable growth. 31,32The awards provide evidences of how Bangladesh is implementing environmentally friendly practices in a variety of industries and how they are leveraging these ideas to improve their brand recognition and efficiency.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTS IN SAME GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS
Industry has been compelled to innovate and lessen its environmental effect by growing environmental awareness.As a consequence, many other nations in the same geographical region have taken a similar inclination to Bangladesh and adopted green initiatives to bring favorable environmental improvements.The most recent sustainable manufacturing method that has the potential to address the majority of India's environmental problems is called "green manufacturing" (GM).Due to the fact that many of their Western peers are integrating environmental sustainability into their business processes, Indian manufacturing enterprises are under pressure to go green.This program has addressed many different elements of reducing the environmental effect by making the best use of the resources at hand and reducing waste. 45One such invention that emerged as a substitute for cash transactions is Paytm.According to Rochemont 8 and Nazimsha and Mannu, 46 Paytm recognized the value of the Cashless Economy and how it promotes financial inclusion while protecting non-renewable and visible resources.The financial environment in Pakistan is also shifting as a result of the cashless revolution.Fintech applications like UPaisa, Easypaisa, and JazzCash play a significant role in addition to internet and phone banking. 47However, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Bangladesh has surpassed Pakistan and India in terms of sustainable trade as a result of stronger performance in the economic and social spheres.The nation moved up five positions in the index, scoring 49.3 out of 100, and was rated 12th out of 20 Indo-Pacific economies, whereas Pakistan and India both received scores of 47.1 and 43.9. 48

CONCLUSIONS
The article highlighted Bangladesh's efforts to develop environmentally friendly and sustainable practices across many businesses.Bangladesh has made significant progress using renewable energy, biodiversity protection, and long-term financial stability.Furthermore, Bangladesh has implemented policies and initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and protect vulnerable coastal regions.The findings revealed green workplaces, effective waste managements, sustainable financing, MFS, e-commerce, and carpooling practices are increasingly been seen in Bangladesh, which indicates silent changes.It is remarkable in demonstrating a strong commitment to promoting sustainable development and environmental protection.The findings of this study aptly align with the overarching objective of examining the green initiatives, strategies, and policies of Bangladeshi organizations in amplifying green footprints within the socio-economic domain.The article emphasized on specific policy recommendations such as adoption of circular economy, digital economy, sustainable finance, car-sharing services, renewable sources of energy in workplaces and manufacturing, and green operations in public and private companies.The article provides a thorough understanding of Bangladesh's pace in adopting green cultures, which further contributes to the overall global agenda of mitigating climate change.To ensure a sustainable future for Bangladesh and the entire planet, it is pivotal to continue support for and invest in green practices.

F I G U R E 1
Green foot prints in Bangladesh.Source: Compiled by author.