The Department of Environment (DoE) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) brought together government officials, industry representatives and development partners on Thursday to advance Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) and Design for Environment (DfE) in Bangladesh’s plastics sector.
Held at The Westin Dhaka, the seminar focused on translating policy into practical action, drawing on industry experiences to improve resource efficiency, reduce waste and strengthen circular approaches to plastics production and use.
The event was organized under the project “Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Plastics Use and Marine Litter Prevention in Bangladesh”, implemented by UNIDO in collaboration with the DoE, with funding from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka.
Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen attended the inaugural session as chief guest, while UNIDO Country Representative in Bangladesh Alamgir Hossain attended as special guest. DoE Director Dr Masud Iqbal Md Shameem chaired the session.
Dr Abdullah Al Mamun, national project director and deputy director of the DoE, delivered the welcome address and outlined efforts to implement EPR, RECP and DfE in Bangladesh. A video message from DoE Director General Dr Md Lutfor Rahman was also presented.
The technical session examined how Bangladesh can move from EPR policy to implementation. Mr. Maqsood Sinha, National Expert under the project “Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Plastics Use and Marine Litter Prevention in Bangladesh”, presented approaches to advancing EPR, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dr Zaki Uz Zaman, former UNIDO country representative.
The panel brought together representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), DoE, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association and PRAN-RFL Group. Discussions explored the roles of government, producers and other stakeholders in putting EPR into practice, followed by an open exchange with participants.
The afternoon sessions focused on practical changes within industry. UNIDO’s project team presented achievements and future opportunities under RECP, followed by experiences from Akij Plastics Ltd, Exoplast Ltd and Tel Plastic Ltd of RFL Group. These sessions provided a platform to share approaches to using materials, energy and other resources more efficiently while reducing waste in plastics manufacturing.
The DfE sessions examined opportunities to address environmental impacts through product design. A technical presentation by UNIDO’s national expert was followed by practical experiences from ACI Premio Plastic, PRAN-RFL and Square Toiletries Ltd, connecting design approaches with their application in industry.
The seminar concluded with a closing ceremony attended by MoEFCC Additional Secretary Dr Nurun Nahar and Joint Secretary Lubna Yasmine as special guests. DoE Additional Director General Solaiman Haider chaired the session and delivered the vote of thanks.
By bringing policy implementation and industrial practices into a single discussion, the seminar sought to strengthen cooperation towards a more resource-efficient and circular plastics sector in Bangladesh.
The project continues to support this transition through policy assistance, institutional capacity development, industry engagement and practical measures to prevent plastic pollution and marine litter.
