Focus on Agriculture, Inclusion and Environment

Shwapno, the country’s largest retail chain, has published its first-ever Sustainability Report 2025, outlining its initiatives and progress in sustainable agriculture, responsible sourcing, environmental protection and inclusive growth. Covering the four-year period from July 2021 to June 2025, the report highlights the company’s efforts to support farmers, strengthen its supply chain, promote responsible business practices and create employment.

Titled ‘Leading Change, Nurturing Tomorrow’, the report was formally launched at an event on Sunday (November 8) at Lakeshore Grand Hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka. Business leaders, diplomats, sustainability experts and representatives from different levels of Shwapno’s supply chain attended the event.

According to the report, Shwapno operated 685 outlets across the country as of June 2025, serving more than 144,000 families every day. The company employed over 8,500 people during the period, of whom 19 per cent were women.

A panel discussion on sustainable development was held at the event. Participants included Farooq Sobhan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CSR Centre; Yoshida Aya, Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister at the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh; Dr Arif Dowla, Group Managing Director of ACI PLC; Kenichiro Kawamoto, Country Chairperson of Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd; Farzana Chowdhury, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Green Delta Insurance Company Ltd; and Shahamin S Zaman, Chief Executive Officer of CSR Centre.

Farooq Sobhan delivered the opening remarks and moderated the panel discussion. Expressing optimism about growing sustainability initiatives in Bangladesh’s private sector, he said the country had made significant economic progress despite various challenges and global uncertainties. However, he stressed that environmental protection must receive equal attention alongside economic growth.

“Businesses in the private sector need to play a more active role in addressing the impacts of climate change. Shwapno’s initiatives in building a sustainable supply chain, using environmentally friendly packaging and ensuring food security are important in this regard. Publishing a sustainability report is not merely a matter of compliance; it is also an important means of building transparency, accountability and trust in business,” he said.

Yoshida Aya said, “Preventing food waste is a major challenge in the retail sector. Many products go to waste because they remain unsold. Identifying operational problems and finding opportunities for improvement are essential to reducing this waste. This is also important for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Shwapno’s initiative will create opportunities for discussion and cooperation among stakeholders, helping to develop more sustainable business practices.”

Dr Arif Dowla said, “Shwapno began its journey with the aim of ensuring fairness and better opportunities for farmers. From the beginning, we have emphasised moving forward together with everyone. We are increasingly using artificial intelligence, or AI, to improve the efficiency of Shwapno’s supply chain. AI has brought significant changes to the way we work. It is creating new opportunities to reduce carbon emissions, increase productivity and improve people’s quality of life. Our goal is to build a more sustainable and inclusive retail sector by leveraging technology.”

Kenichiro Kawamoto said, “Sustainable development is extremely important for long-term business success. We believe ACI and Shwapno can play an important role in raising awareness among stakeholders and promoting sustainable business practices. The publication of Shwapno’s first sustainability report is a significant step in this direction. I congratulate everyone involved on this achievement.”

Farzana Chowdhury said, “Sustainable development is essential for inclusive growth and bringing long-term positive changes to people’s lives. Our experience has shown that financial inclusion can make a significant difference, particularly through agricultural insurance and expanding access to services for women and marginalised communities. Strong partnerships and transparent sustainability reporting play an important role in scaling up these initiatives.”

Shahamin S Zaman said, “Shwapno is playing an important role in developing the country’s retail sector, supporting farmers and adding value to the economy. I congratulate the company on publishing its first sustainability report. CSR Centre is proud to have supported the preparation of this report. This evidence-based report will help assess Shwapno’s current position and measure its progress towards sustainability in the future.”

Sabbir Hasan Nasir, Managing Director of ACI Logistics Limited (Shwapno), said the future of Bangladesh’s retail sector would depend on moving towards sustainable development by drawing on past experience and embracing new opportunities.

“Our goal is to move forward in a way that makes our customers, society and future generations proud of this collective journey,” he said.

Before the screening of a video titled ‘From Soil to Soul: Shwapno’s Sustainability Journey’, Mohammad Mahadi Faisal, Director of Marketing and Growth at ACI Logistics Limited (Shwapno), delivered remarks. The video highlighted Shwapno’s initiatives to bring long-term positive changes for farmers, local communities and the environment.

The report was formally launched with the participation of farmers, employees, customers and business partners associated with Shwapno.

It also outlines the company’s activities in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular emphasis on responsible consumption and production, sustainable agriculture, decent employment and environmental protection.

Through the publication of the report, Shwapno aims to strengthen transparency and accountability in its business operations and contribute to building a sustainable and inclusive retail sector in Bangladesh.

//DBTech/ATMP/SME/MSI//