LWG to be invited early next year for Savar tannery estate audit

FE Team | Published: October 08, 2019 21:58:13

Bangladesh plans to invite Leather Working Group (LWG), a global rights body, early next year to examine the Savar Tannery Industrial Estate (STIE) to attain the standard certificate, as the remaining development works are expected to be finished by the end of this year, reports BSS.
To attain the LWG certificate, a decision of conducting a 'mock audit' was taken at a review meeting on the implementation of the central effluent treatment plant (CETP) and overall works of STIE at the conference room of STIE on Tuesday, said a ministry release.
At the meeting, the officials concerned have also been directed to adopt and implement time-based working plan in line with the result of the 'mock audit' so the required development work could be done before the LWG audit.
With Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun in the chair, Private Industry and Investment Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Salman Fazlur Rahman, MP, Industries Secretary Md Abdul Halim, BSCIC Chairman Md Mostak Hasan, BUET Team Leader Professor Dr Md Delwar Hossain, Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers' and Exporters' Association of Bangladesh President Saiful Islam, Bangladesh Tanners' Association President Shaheen Ahmed, Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters Association Chairman Mohiuddin Ahmed Mahin, STIE Project Director Engineer Jitendranath Paul and Apex Group Representatives Major (retd) Mirza Anwarul Kabir, among others, were present at the meeting.
LWG is made up of member brands, retailers, product manufacturers, leather manufacturers, chemical suppliers and technical experts that have worked together to develop an environmental stewardship protocol specifically for the leather manufacturing industry.
The LWG certification is awarded to the companies based on the points presented on factors such as solid waste management, treatment and less usage of water, chemical use and labour welfare etc. Out of 100 points, 85 bring gold certification, 75 silver and 65 bronze.
The review meeting also decided to allocate space at the STIE to the byproduct producers for managing the solid wastages. In this case, the plots allocated to the tannery but failed to set up industry yet would be revoked and awarded to the byproduct producers.
The meeting was apprised that 98 per cent work of the CETP has been completed and currently four modules of the CETP are working to treat wastages.
Besides, installation work of the three units of the nine dewatering units has been completed while the remaining is expected to be finished within October 25.