Cooling investments in apparel factories can pay for themselves, study shows

A new study from Cornell University's Global Labor Institute reveals that investing in cooling systems for Bangladesh's apparel factories can be financially beneficial. The research, titled "Six Seasons, Four Summers: How to Solve Fashion's High Heat Problem," found that the average payback period for such investments ranges from one to four years.

This conclusion comes after analyzing data from eight Dhaka-region apparel factories and three dozen workers' homes. Despite rising costs and shifting earnings, the study calculated that the payback period for cooling solutions remained consistent across different scenarios. The researchers noted that Dhaka experienced a seven-month heat stress season in 2025, with factory heat stress consistently exceeding outdoor levels.

Workers faced the greatest exposure to heat stress during the cutting, ironing, and finishing sections, where they spent significant time during the hottest months. The study found that workers often resorted to borrowing money, pawning belongings, or cutting spending to afford fans, electricity, and healthcare during the hottest months.

Additionally, hotter homes led to increased electricity, medicine, and other household costs. The researchers emphasize the importance of living wages, which would allow workers to invest in home improvements and better manage the extreme heat they face both at work and home. They call for greater collaboration among brands, manufacturers, governments, and international institutions to address the issue of extreme heat in apparel workplaces and share the costs of adaptation.