Experts highlight progress, next steps for plastic circularity

Speakers at a knowledge sharing event in the capital on Thursday said sustaining progress on plastic pollution requires effective producer responsibility, stronger recycling systems and continued investment in industry skills.

Organised by the Department of Environment (DoE) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the event marked the conclusion of the “Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Plastics Use and Marine Litter Prevention in Bangladesh” project, supported by the Government of Norway.

Held at The Westin Dhaka, the gathering brought together government officials, industry representatives, recycling entrepreneurs and development partners to review achievements and identify priorities for carrying the work forward.

Mohammad Navid Safiullah, secretary in routine charge at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, attended as chief guest. The event was chaired by Dr Md Lutfor Rahman, director general of Department of Environment. Special Guests included Dr Nurun Nahar, additional secretary of the ministry, and Alamgir Hossain, country representative of UNIDO Bangladesh.

Plastic waste places pressure on Bangladesh’s drainage systems, rivers and coastal ecosystems, while discarded materials represent a loss of resources for industry. The project addressed these challenges through connected interventions in policy, consumer behaviour, industrial production and recycling.

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In his welcome address, Dr Abdullah Al Mamun, project director and deputy director of DoE, outlined work undertaken through nationwide assessments, more than 60 cleanup campaigns, industrial assessments and collaboration with recyclers.

He emphasised that the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) must now be followed by effective implementation.

Presenting the project’s implementation journey, Dr Rana Pratap Singh, project manager, UNIDO Vienna, highlighted support for EPR policy development, public awareness and practical improvements in industry. He reported online awareness reach of approximately 10 million and in-person engagement of around 50,000 people, including through school and university activities.

Singh also highlighted the financial value of Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP), noting savings achieved through its application. He described cooperation with health authorities and local agencies in establishing the biomedical waste management intervention in Sirajganj, illustrating the importance of coordination across institutions.

The project’s industry work combined RECP with Design for Environment (DfE), helping participating businesses examine how resources are used during production and how products can be designed to reduce environmental impacts. These approaches connect waste prevention within factories with the longer-term recovery and recycling of materials.

Alamgir Hossain described the initiative as a flagship programme for UNIDO in Bangladesh. He noted feedback from industry that RECP and DfE training had supported the development of new products, demonstrating the practical value of technical capacity building. He also expressed UNIDO’s interest in continued cooperation with the Government on future initiatives.

Dr Nurun Nahar emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to carrying forward the work. She highlighted the opportunity to develop a pool of trainers in cooperation with the plastics industry association and called for cleanup efforts to continue through engagement with district administrations.

Chairing the event, Dr Md Lutfor Rahman acknowledged the trainers developed through UNIDO’s support and stressed the importance of sustaining practical interventions such as the Sirajganj biomedical waste management model. He called for continued improvements in waste segregation and a stronger focus on recovering plastics as resources.

An open discussion moderated by Mohammed Solaiman Haider, additional director general, DoE, brought implementation challenges into focus. Participants called for better infrastructure and operating conditions for recycling enterprises, stronger packaging standards, systematic inclusion of informal recyclers and environmental education from the primary level. Opportunities to further develop the PlasticPath digital platform were also raised.

Delivering the vote of thanks, Kazi Suman, deputy project director and deputy director, DoE, acknowledged the collaboration of stakeholders across more than 300 project activities.

The event highlighted that plastic circularity depends on connecting policy with practical systems for better production, responsible consumption and material recovery. The project’s technical knowledge, trained professionals and partnerships provide a foundation for continuing this work beyond its closure.