In a week, the government is set to impose a complete ban on polyethylene or polypropylene-based materials like shopping bags in supermarkets. The ban will be extended to traditional markets from November 1.
So, the question arises: Do we have alternatives to polythene ready?
Experts argue that while the environmental impact of polythene is undeniable, viable alternatives must be available before enforcing the ban, and polythene production factories must be shut down to make the shift effective.
Currently, Dhaka city alone consumes about 500 tons of polythene daily. However, the alternatives, such as biodegradable bags, are produced in limited quantities.
To make the transition smoother, production of eco-friendly alternatives needs to be ramped up significantly, and incentives provided to companies working on sustainable solutions.
History of incomplete enforcement
Bangladesh first attempted to regulate polythene in 2002, enforcing a ban on its production, use, and marketing under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act of 1995.
Section 25 of the law imposed heavy fines of up to Tk10 lakh and prison sentences of up to 10 years on offenders.
While this led to a temporary reduction in polythene use, the initiative faltered by 2004-2005 due to a lack of alternatives and weak law enforcement.
Former environment minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury also tried to enforce the ban, but like earlier attempts, the lack of affordable alternatives and gaps in enforcement led to failure.
‘Need alternatives’
Traders, consumers, and experts agree that sustainable solutions must accompany the ban if this campaign is to succeed.
“A fine of Tk10,000 was imposed on me 10-12 years ago for using polythene, but then I saw everyone else using it, and customers still demanded it, so I had to go back to using it,” said Md Kamal, a rice seller at the Town Hall Market in Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
He added: “We don’t want to use polythene either. We know it’s harmful to the environment. But we don’t have an alternative, so we are forced to use it.”
Other traders echoed this concern. Jafar Ahmed, a grocery store owner, explained: “We shopkeepers also understand how much polythene harms us. But we don’t have an alternative. Polythene is easily accessible and affordable, so we are used to it now.
“Previously, there were large paper or cement bags, but when polythene became available, it took over the market easily because a paper bag costs Tk3, while polythene only costs Tk2. Naturally, we adopted it. If a complete ban is enforced on polythene production, we will have to use whatever alternative comes in, no matter the cost,” he added.
Delwar Hossain, a fish seller, highlighted the practical challenges, saying: “I need about 500-600 grams of polythene daily. If production stops, we’ll need affordable alternatives to continue our business.”
Other shopkeepers mentioned that biodegradable bags are often not waterproof or airtight, which creates difficulties when storing or transporting perishable goods.
Production slow but promising
Despite limited local demand, some companies are working on producing eco-friendly bags.
Raihan Mohammad, CEO of Ecosphere, an environmentally friendly bag manufacturing company, told Dhaka Tribune: “Although we started producing eco-friendly bags in 2017 for the domestic market, there wasn’t much demand, so we have been exporting abroad. Our factory-made bags are exported to Germany, North America, the UK, and Dubai.”
He said his factory produces more than 35-40 tons of eco-friendly bags per month using cassava, corn, and PBAT (biomaterial).
“We are producing two types of bags — EcoBag and FastTex. Both types are biodegradable. A 30-micron bag made from corn decomposes in 90 days, while a 55-micron bag fully decomposes into soil in 147 days,” Raihan explained.
“These bags are made from food-based materials, making them home-compostable. Once they decompose, they become fish feed in water and mix into the soil naturally,” he added.
Raihan said they have signed contracts to supply eco-friendly bags to local supermarkets. “We will supply 32-40 tons of bags per month, priced between Tk1.5 to 5.”
The high production cost of these bags makes them less competitive compared to polythene.
“We are paying a 31% import tax, while plastic materials are imported at 0% tax. Since we operate legally, we are paying 31% tax upfront, followed by 5% AIT and 15% VAT when we sell, meaning we end up paying a total of 51% to the government. Our bags cost between Tk1.5 to 8. In contrast, shopping mall bags were sold at BDT 18, so we reduced the price to BDT 8, even though we have limited margins,” Raihan explained.
Similarly, Mahbub Sumon, inventor of the potato-based “Polka” bags, pointed out the financial challenges of scaling up production. “We need funding and subsidies to grow. Without sufficient support, it’s hard to compete with the billion-dollar plastic industry,” he said.
He further added: “Those of us working on polythene alternatives are not receiving the support we need. Therefore, I am not too optimistic about this campaign and the law; it seems like an eyewash.”
Calling for subsidies, he said: “Although the law is commendable, I believe there should be another law providing financial subsidies and research funding for those working on alternatives.”
The Sonali Bag
In 2015, Mobarak Ahmed Khan, a gold medal-winning scientific advisor of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), created a stir by developing an eco-friendly bag made from cellulose extracted from jute.
The Sonali Bag, developed by Mobarak Ahmed Khan from jute cellulose, has been hailed as a potential solution, but financial hurdles have hindered its market launch.
In 2019, Tk10 crore was allocated to begin production, but to meet Dhaka’s daily requirement of 500 tons, further investment is needed.
Mobarak Ahmed said: “We had proposed a plan to the government amounting to nearly BDT 100 crore for modernizing equipment, machinery, recruiting manpower, and conducting research. If that proposal is implemented and if the environment ministry allocates some additional funds, we can start full production."
He added: “With my current machinery, I can produce only 1 ton of bags daily.”
Mobarak Ahmed Khan believes that modernization and additional funding are essential to scale up production and make the Sonali Bag a viable alternative.
Mobarak Ahmed Khan emphasized that the problem cannot be solved with jute bags alone. “We need further modernization and innovative solutions to fight the plastic industry,” he said.
Govt stance on alternatives
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, acknowledged the concerns of traders and experts.
She said: “Banning plastic and polypropylene bags is not a unilateral decision by the government; it was made in consultation with supermarket business owners. As an alternative, jute, fabric, and paper bags will be used. For this, 20-25 organizations, including the Bangladesh Jute Mills Association, will supply jute, fabric, and paper bags. The supermarkets have already placed their orders, and bags will be supplied according to their demand.”
Rizwana issued a warning, saying: “This (banning polythene) will not be a mere discussion like today; the law will be strictly enforced. The market shop owners’ associations have also promised that within a month, they will start using jute, fabric, or paper bags instead of polythene.”