Unilever Expands Plastic Waste Protection Programme

Multinational consumer goods manufacturer and marketer Unilever Bangladesh Limited has expanded safety support, social protection, and community-based initiatives to strengthen sustainable plastic waste management in the country. The activities are being implemented under the company’s ‘Plastic Waste Management Initiative’.

As part of this initiative, safety equipment was distributed among 1,673 plastic waste collectors at an event held in the Chattogram City Corporation area.

The equipment includes safety vests, gumboots, rubber gloves, helmets, goggles, and iron hooks, which will help improve their safety at work and reduce exposure to hazardous waste.

In addition, 170 first aid boxes were provided to local scrap shops or bhangariwalas to ensure immediate primary treatment in case of minor accidents. At the same event, a three-bin waste segregation system was introduced in 50 schools and madrasas to raise awareness about source-based waste separation.

Earlier under this initiative, safety equipment had been provided to 3,700 waste workers, and the three-bin system had been introduced in 61 educational institutions. So far, more than 30,000 tonnes of plastic waste have been collected through this initiative.

At the same time, insurance facilities and financial assistance mechanisms have been introduced to strengthen social protection for waste workers and their families.

Field-level observations and evaluations indicate that these safety and social protection measures have significantly reduced health risks and workplace accidents. At the same time, infection rates have declined, medical expenses have decreased, and workers’ productivity has increased.

In this regard, Shamima Akter, Director of Corporate Affairs, Partnerships and Communications at Unilever Bangladesh, said that the company believes environmental protection initiatives must progress alongside improvements in people’s quality of life. “With this vision in mind, we have been implementing our plastic waste management initiative in the Chattogram City Corporation area since 2022, and notable progress has already been achieved. However, due to the informal nature of the sector, waste collectors still face various risks and challenges. Therefore, we are continuously working to ensure a safer working environment for them, strengthen social protection, and build a more inclusive and responsible plastic waste management system.”

DBTech/NA/EK/OR