With the economic progress, plastic consumption and creating unmanaged plastic waste are on the rise in Bangladesh. The Country is fighting plastic pollution as one of its most pressing environmental issues every day.
Unmanaged plastic waste poses a complex set of challenges in an urban backdrop. To tackle this problem, a partnership has been ongoing between Unilever Bangladesh, a sustainable and responsible FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) company, and UNDP Bangladesh, according to a media release issued on Thursday.
In partnership with Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC), they have created a sustainable plastic waste management model (PWM), focusing on the urban areas of Bangladesh, including major cities such as Narayanganj.
Recently, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, His Excellency, Robert Chatterton Dickson paid a visit to Unilever’s Plastic Waste Management Project (PWMP) site at Narayanganj City Corporation.
The Mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation, Dr Salina Hayat Ivy attended as chief guest on this occasion.
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Van, deputy resident representative, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Sarder M Asaduzzaman, assistant resident representative, head of Program Management and Partnership Support Unit (PMPSU), UNDP Bangladesh, Zaved Akhtar, CEO and managing director, Unilever Bangladesh Limited, Shahidul Islam, chief executive officer, Narayanganj City Corporation, and other key officials from both organizations were present.
The dignitaries visited the Plastic Collection station supported by the project, observed the daily plastic collection process, visited households to see plastic segregation practices, engaged with community leaders, waste pickers, and street cleaners and finally visited the plastic value addition centre run by the project.
On his visit, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, His Excellency, Robert Chatterton Dickson, said: “It has been wonderful to see Unilever, Narayanganj City Corporation, UNDP and the British High Commission working together in the Plastic Waste Management project. We must continue to collaborate to create opportunities for plastic management in the city.”
Zaved Akhtar said: “At Unilever, we are committed to improving the health of the planet, and as a part of our Compass Commitment of keeping plastic in the loop, we have a target to collect more plastic than we sell by 2025. With UNDP’s community outreach, Unilever’s business acumen, and Narayanganj City Corporation’s unwavering support, we have created Bangladesh’s largest municipality-backed plastic waste management project. We believe our action will inspire industry and the government to achieve Bangladesh’s Green Growth Strategy and the SDG targets.”
The plastic waste management project (PWMP) proposes to find a business model with a value proposition for each actor involved in the plastic waste value chain. Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO) is the implementing partner of the project, while Ernst and Young Global (EY) is working to create citizen awareness of plastic waste management. Such initiatives are not only reducing environmental impact per capita, but the coordinated efforts are also improving wider developmental agendas, including livelihood and health outcomes of the waste pickers.
