Promote recyclable plastic goods

FE REPORT
Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday suggested promoting sustainable production and consumption of plastic goods through an environmentally sound waste management system.
They emphasised increasing competition, taking new market opportunities, expanding products, security of resource sources and increasing reputation in expanding the circular economy.
The Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) and the British Standards Institution (BSI) co-hosted a seminar styled 'CE to Enhance the Export Possibilities of Plastic Goods' in Dhaka.
The seminar sought to address crucial issues and strategies for Bangladesh to export plastic products to the UK and European markets.
A keynote was presented by Dr Jane Gilbert, circular economy expert of the BSI.
BPGMEA president Shamim Ahmed chaired the seminar and delivered a welcome address, while Syed Anwar Hossain, project manager UK-Bangladesh Standards Partnership Initiative, gave a presentation on Standards Partnership Bangladesh.
BPGMEA senior vice-president KM Iqbal Hossain delivered his closing remarks.
The keynoter, Dr Jane, called for promoting national action plan on circular economy.
She also suggested working for the prevention, reduction and elimination of plastic pollution, and promoting sustainable production and consumption of plastics through product design and environmentally sound waste management system.
"We need a systemic transformation to achieve the transition to a circular economy," added Dr Jane.
According to her, the global economy is now only 7.2-per cent circular, and it is getting worse year on year, driven by rising material extraction and use.
"The plastic industry shows promise with huge growth potential in the domestic market and opportunity to grab a share in the global market," observes Dr Jane.
"After the LDC graduation in 2026," she says, "Bangladesh will have to adopt international standard for goods and services to enhance export."
BPGMEA president Shamim Ahmed said that as the country develops, the use of plastic will increase.
He said investment and infrastructural development is required for waste management.
"We're implementing circular economy in the country. Currently, 37 per cent of mismanaged plastic is being recycled in Bangladesh. The recycling process will be strengthened further."
In expanding the circular economy, Mr Ahmed emphasised increasing competition, taking new market opportunities, expanding products, security of resource sources and increasing reputation.
Experts from different organisations also gave valuable insights into economic development, trade policy, sustainable growth, and capacity-building initiatives and exports.
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