United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Bangladesh Plastics Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) organized a “Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on Resource Efficient & Cleaner Production (RECP) and Design for Environment (DfE): Opportunities for Plastics Industries in Bangladesh” on Wednesday at a hotel in Dhaka.
The workshop was organized under a project of UNIDO with the title “Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Plastics Use and Marine Litter Prevention in Bangladesh”. UNIDO being the specialized agency of the United Nations for promotion of industrial development, is the implementing this project in Bangladesh in cooperation with the Department of Environment and funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is likely to be the first integrated project on sustainable plastics use and marine litter prevention in Bangladesh which aims to formulate policy, raise consumer awareness, implementation of preventive techniques in plastics industries and development of plastics recycling industries.
Md. Jashim Uddin, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) attended the workshop as the Chief Guest. He said that Resource Efficient & Cleaner Production (RECP) and Design for Environment is the continuous application of an integrated preventive environmental strategy to processes, products and services to increase efficiency and reduce risks to humans and the environment. He also said that there is no alternative of using plastic product. So we need to follow the proper waste management policy to recycle the waste plastic and protect environment from pollution. To ensure sustainable plastics use and marine litter prevention we need integrated approach, such as formulation of policy, consumer awareness, industrial efficiency and development of recycling industries.
Zaki Uz Zaman, PhD, UNIDO Country Representative, Bangladesh delivered a welcome speech and explained UNIDO’s roles in industrial development of Bangladesh. Dr Rene Van Berkel, UNIDO Representative and Head of Regional Office in India made the keynote presentation on Resource Efficient & Cleaner Production (RECP) and Design for Environment (DfE). He explained the techniques and key aspects of Circular Economy & RECP and explained the opportunities for plastics industries in Bangladesh to save raw materials, energy, water, and other resources which will ultimately lead to gain economic benefits. He also explained the concepts of Design for Environment or Eco Design for plastics industries by which plastics pollution can be reduced after the end of life of any plastics goods or packaging materials and plastics components used in cosmetics, garments, etc. The presentation included concepts of preventing plastics waste from going to the water body and save marine life from the impact of micro-plastics and nano-plastics.
Shamim Ahmed, President of BPGMEA also made a presentation on “Current Scenario of plastics industries in Bangladesh” and opening remarks on behalf of BPGMEA.
Business leaders of the country’s renowned plastics industries, experts from different development organizations and some officials emabssies, industries attended the workshop. Business leaders from Bangladesh Plastics Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA), Bangladesh PET Flakes Manufacturers and Expoerts Association (BPFMEA), Bangladesh PVC Pipes Manufacturers Association, Bangladesh PVC Compound Manufacturers Association also attended the workshop.
