Unilever Bangladesh Upholds Plastic Promise in Chattogram
Unilever Bangladesh, one of the country’s leading FMCG manufacturers and marketers, has announced its continued commitment to collect and process 10% of unmanaged plastic waste in Chattogram in 2025. The announcement is part of the company’s global sustainability pledge. To celebrate this milestone, Unilever Bangladesh hosted an event at the Radisson Blu Bay View Hotel in Chattogram in collaboration with the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) and Young Power in Social Action (YPSA). The event highlighted progress made in the company’s plastic waste management initiatives.
During the event, three waste collectors and two scrap dealers/CSO representatives were honored for their significant contributions to plastic waste management and community development.
Present at the event were Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Muhammad Touhidul Islam, and Chief Conservancy Officer Commander IUA Chowdhury (S), (BN). Also in attendance were Unilever Bangladesh’s Supply Chain Director Ruhul Quddus, Legal Director and Company Secretary S.O.M. Rashedul Kaiyum, Director of Corporate Affairs, Partnerships and Communications Shamima Akhter, and YPSA’s Director of Social Development Nasim Banu.
This tripartite initiative between Unilever Bangladesh, CCC, and YPSA began in June 2022. Since then, the project has brought significant changes to plastic waste management across 41 wards of Chattogram. Over 24,000 tonnes of plastic waste—roughly 10% of the city’s total—have been collected so far. Additionally, more than 3,000 waste workers have received training on safe collection and handling practices. The initiative has also equipped over 2,000 waste collectors and 200 scrap dealers with protective gear and business development training to enhance their skills and resilience.
Beyond operational improvements, the initiative has strengthened the local waste management system and paved the way for sustainable livelihoods and long-term community development. A group insurance program has been launched for 1,827 waste workers and scrap dealers, offering up to BDT 300,000 in life insurance coverage in the event of accidental death. Medical expenses, including doctor’s fees, hospital bills, and medicine costs, are also covered. These financial and social protections have provided crucial support to professionals in this high-risk sector.
The program also emphasized raising public awareness. Awareness campaigns on source-level waste segregation have reached over 15,000 households and more than 7,000 students in 71 schools.
Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain remarked, “Plastic pollution is a growing challenge for Bangladesh, and addressing it requires a collective effort from the government, private sector, NGOs, and citizens. The collaboration between CCC, Unilever Bangladesh, and YPSA is an inspiring example of how we can transform plastic waste into a resource through partnership. I thank Unilever Bangladesh and YPSA for their unwavering commitment to waste management and the welfare of waste workers. If we support the unsung heroes behind this transformation, we can surely build a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable Bangladesh.”
Chattogram City Corporation CEO Sheikh Muhammad Touhidul Islam stated, “By integrating the innovation of the private sector with local government systems, we have achieved tangible improvements in waste management and environmental protection. We believe that this model, if replicated in other cities, can bring about significant positive change.”
Shamima Akhter, Director of Corporate Affairs, Partnerships, and Communications at Unilever Bangladesh, said, “As part of our commitment to eliminating plastic pollution, Unilever Bangladesh continues to lead in sustainable plastic management. Our collaboration with CCC and YPSA demonstrates that sustainable solutions are possible through joint efforts. Informal plastic collectors are a vital part of our initiative—without them, large-scale collection is impossible. By improving their health, safety, and rights, we are creating an example of an equitable, sustainable economy. Through this initiative, we manage nearly 10% of Chattogram’s plastic waste, with active participation from waste workers, government agencies, private organizations, and development partners.”
Nasim Banu, Director of the Social Development Department at YPSA, added, “This partnership has empowered marginalized waste workers and contributed to building a more resilient society, playing a pivotal role in creating a cleaner Chattogram. Our joint efforts prove that even the most significant environmental challenges can be successfully tackled through community-based solutions.”
Notably, as part of its long-term commitment to sustainable development and social progress, Unilever Bangladesh has been a trusted partner in the country’s advancement for over six decades.
The UK-based multinational company, listed on the London Stock Exchange, began its operations in Bangladesh in 1962 by establishing a factory in Kalurghat, Chattogram. Currently, 39.25% of Unilever Bangladesh Limited is owned by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Industries, while the remaining 60.75% is held by the global Unilever Group. Approximately 96% of the company’s products are produced locally through its workforce in Bangladesh.
