Cooling investments in Bangladesh apparel factories could pay for themselves in one to four years, according to research from Cornell University's Global Labor Institute. The estimate weighs the cost of heat stress against the potential returns from reducing it; it is not a guarantee for every factory.
Researchers studied data from eight apparel factories in the Dhaka region and about three dozen workers' homes. They used the 2025 data to estimate the economic effects of extreme heat and evaluate cooling investments under two scenarios, one described as a headwind case and the other as a worst case.
The team found that Dhaka had a seven-month heat-stress season in 2025 and that conditions inside the factories were consistently hotter than outdoors. Workers in cutting, ironing and finishing areas had the greatest exposure during the hottest months, often spending substantial work time in heat-stress zones the researchers classified as caution, high or severe.
Heat exposure did not end when a shift was over. The researchers found that many workers also faced high temperatures at home, limiting their opportunity to recover. Workers surveyed reported spending more on electricity, fans, medicine and health care during hot months; some said they borrowed money, pawned belongings or reduced other spending to cover those costs.
Jason Judd, executive director of Cornell's Global Labor Institute, said the estimated payback period held across the factories and scenarios the team calculated, even as costs and factory earnings changed. The analysis is contained in a report called “Six Seasons, Four Summers: How to Solve Fashion's High Heat Problem.”
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Judd also argued that higher wages matter alongside engineering fixes. More income, he said, could help workers pay for electricity, efficient fans, medication and housing that offers better protection during the hottest months. The report calls for apparel brands, factory owners, governments and international institutions to coordinate and share the cost of adapting to extreme heat.
The findings concern a limited group of factories and homes around Dhaka, not a measured payback period for every apparel facility worldwide. They nevertheless give employers and brands a concrete estimate to consider as heat exposure rises and workers face costs both on and off the job.
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