End plastic pollution

The current market size of plastic products in Bangladesh is more than $1 billion and it is gradually increasing

The government of Bangladesh’s first voluntary commitment to Ocean Conference (2017) was to reduce plastic dumping in the ocean. In 2002, Bangladesh became the first country in the world to ban thinner plastic bags after they were found to have choked the drainage system during devastating floods. Following the 1998 flood it was estimated that up to 80 percent of the city’s water logging was caused by polythene bags blocking drain. In 1999, following the 1998 flood, the Ministry of Environment and Forests again started campaign against polythene through its UNDP supported Sustainable Environment Management Programme. It has banned use of polythene shopping bags in 2002. However, Bangladesh is still struggling with the issue of polythene bags and plastic and enforcing the ban. Moreover, the use of plastic in the form of packaging materials are growing and likely to grow with its economy is on rise as world 32th largest to 23 by 2030. A number of key factors which are responsible for widespread use of polythene and plastic materials, its limited recycling and end up being in the water-bodies with high human, animal and environmental pollution.

The use of plastic and polythene based products is increasing day by day in Bangladesh. The current market size of plastic products in Bangladesh is more than $1 billion and gradually increasing. There are around 3,000 plastic manufacturing units over the country and more than 2 million people directly and indirectly involved in this sector. The plastic sectors contribute 1percent of GDP and the current per capita consumption of plastics in Bangladesh is around 5 kg per year. In Dhaka city about 14 million pieces of polybags are deposited every day which often fall into rivers and oceans.

The country need to introduce biodegradable polythene and plastic immediately since conventional plastic and polythene is (1) becoming hazardous to human beings, animal and environment, (2) creating congestion problem in the city drains and causing flooding, (3) dumping in the river bed and ocean and depleting soil, water, ecosystem and biodiversity, (4) causing a variety of health problems including damage to the reproductive and immune system, respiratory difficulties and causing cancer, (4) disposing of plastic after end use is alarming and creating massive environmental pollution and (5) making solid waste management more expensive as landfill or open incineration do not provide an acceptable solution of the disposal problem, (6) creating variety of public health problems including damage to the reproductive and immune system, respiratory difficulties and cancer.

Major barriers for promoting alternative materials of plastic and polyethene are: (1) unavailability of alternative biodegradable materials with affordable price, (2) durability, low cost and easy formability of plastic to different shapes; (3) mindset and behaviour of producer and consumers, (4) less incentive and concessional financing for promoting green industry/enterprise.

To find the most useful and practical solution of this problem, development and application of bio-degradable polythene and plastics is one of the major challenges. To overcome these constrains, along with technological change, the provoking of the thinking of youths, public and private sectors to replace the current plastic materials by biodegradable material will play an effective role. Biodegradable bags are available now that is made from renewable resources like corn starch, maize, sugar beet, potato starch and biodegradable polymers (bio-polymers). Arranging national idea contest for university students, youth and young professionals in finding alternative materials (bio-degradable) and 3R (Reduce, Reuse & Recycle) strategy will help to generate new ideas which can be implemented to solve problems regarding plastic material. We can also transfer relevant technology from developed country. Moreover, motivation to private sectors to sensitize the importance of biodegradable plastics and their impacts in the environment may bring a drastic change in this sector. Recently Dr. Mobarak Ahmed Khan from Latif Bhawani Jute Mills invented a technology  to make biodegradable packaging materials from jute which will be cheaper than polythene with same durability and strength. This technology could also be explored. Engaging youth in 3R awareness campaign in urban, beach and tourist attractive places to keep the environment plastic free will bring an outstanding solution for promoting sustainable development.

To address the challenge of polythene and plastic pollution in Bangladesh we need to (i) assess use of plastic and polythene in consumer goods packaging and support in economic decision making on alternatives/substitutes materials, (ii) support technological innovation, technology development and transfer for promoting bio-degradable polymer technology in the current production process, (iii) shift investment towards environment friendly products (e.g. biodegradable and compostable alternative to plastic, biodegradable polymers, etc.) and materials design, (iv) launch youth led public awareness campaign and create coalition of citizen for cleaning of plastic and polythene in major cities and tourist spots, (v) support government in formulating policy, regulation and strengthening enforcement to promote sustainable packaging materials and reduce production and use of polythene and plastic, (vi) setup of a dedicated fund at Bangladesh Bank which will attract potential private sector investors for producing environment friendly packaging materials and biodegradable substitute. This support will also attract commercial bank and other financial institutions to design innovative financial products and mechanism for promoting green financing scheme and green industry/enterprise. A strong political commitment and mindset will be required to achieve all the above and to phase down use of polythene and plastic in consumer goods packaging.

The writer is working for UNDP Bangladesh

 

End plastic pollution

The current market size of plastic products in Bangladesh is more than $1 billion and it is gradually increasing

The government of Bangladeshs first voluntary commitment to Ocean Conference (2017) was to reduce plastic dumping in the ocean. In 2002, Bangladesh became the first country in the world to ban thinner plastic bags after they were found to have choked the drainage system during devastating floods. Following the 1998 flood it was estimated that up to 80 percent of the citys water logging was caused by polythene bags blocking drain. In 1999, following the 1998 flood, the Ministry of Environment and Forests again started campaign against polythene through its UNDP supported Sustainable Environment Management Programme. It has banned use of polythene shopping bags in 2002. However, Bangladesh is still struggling with the issue of polythene bags and plastic and enforcing the ban. Moreover, the use of plastic in the form of packaging materials are growing and likely to grow with its economy is on rise as world 32th largest to 23 by 2030. A number of key factors which are responsible for widespread use of polythene and plastic materials, its limited recycling and end up being in the water-bodies with high human, animal and environmental pollution. The use of plastic and polythene based products is increasing day by day in Bangladesh. The current market size of plastic products in Bangladesh is more than $1 billion and gradually increasing. There are around 3,000 plastic manufacturing units over the country and more than 2 million people directly and indirectly involved in this sector. The plastic sectors contribute 1percent of GDP and the current per capita consumption of plastics in Bangladesh is around 5 kg per year. In Dhaka city about 14 million pieces of polybags are deposited every day which often fall into rivers and oceans. The country need to introduce biodegradable polythene and plastic immediately since conventional plastic and polythene is (1) becoming hazardous to human beings, animal and environment, (2) creating congestion problem in the city drains and causing flooding, (3) dumping in the river bed and ocean and depleting soil, water, ecosystem and biodiversity, (4) causing a variety of health problems including damage to the reproductive and immune system, respiratory difficulties and causing cancer, (4) disposing of plastic after end use is alarming and creating massive environmental pollution and (5) making solid waste management more expensive as landfill or open incineration do not provide an acceptable solution of the disposal problem, (6) creating variety of public health problems including damage to the reproductive and immune system, respiratory difficulties and cancer. Major barriers for promoting alternative materials of plastic and polyethene are: (1) unavailability of alternative biodegradable materials with affordable price, (2) durability, low cost and easy formability of plastic to different shapes; (3) mindset and behaviour of producer and consumers, (4) less incentive and concessional financing for promoting green industry/enterprise. To find the most useful and practical solution of this problem, development and application of bio-degradable polythene and plastics is one of the major challenges. To overcome these constrains, along with technological change, the provoking of the thinking of youths, public and private sectors to replace the current plastic materials by biodegradable material will play an effective role. Biodegradable bags are available now that is made from renewable resources like corn starch, maize, sugar beet, potato starch and biodegradable polymers (bio-polymers). Arranging national idea contest for university students, youth and young professionals in finding alternative materials (bio-degradable) and 3R (Reduce, Reuse Recycle) strategy will help to generate new ideas which can be implemented to solve problems regarding plastic material. We can also transfer relevant technology from developed country. Moreover, motivation to private sectors to sensitize the importance of biodegradable plastics and their impacts in the environment may bring a drastic change in this sector. Recently Dr. Mobarak Ahmed Khan from Latif Bhawani Jute Mills invented a technology to make biodegradable packaging materials from jute which will be cheaper than polythene with same durability and strength. This technology could also be explored. Engaging youth in 3R awareness campaign in urban, beach and tourist attractive places to keep the environment plastic free will bring an outstanding solution for promoting sustainable development. To address the challenge of polythene and plastic pollution in Bangladesh we need to (i) assess use of plastic and polythene in consumer goods packaging and support in economic decision making on alternatives/substitutes materials, (ii) support technological innovation, technology development and transfer for promoting bio-degradable polymer technology in the current production process, (iii) shift investment towards environment friendly products (e.g. biodegradable and compostable alternative to plastic, biodegradable polymers, etc.) and materials design, (iv) launch youth led public awareness campaign and create coalition of citizen for cleaning of plastic and polythene in major cities and tourist spots, (v) support government in formulating policy, regulation and strengthening enforcement to promote sustainable packaging materials and reduce production and use of polythene and plastic, (vi) setup of a dedicated fund at Bangladesh Bank which will attract potential private sector investors for producing environment friendly packaging materials and biodegradable substitute. This support will also attract commercial bank and other financial institutions to design innovative financial products and mechanism for promoting green financing scheme and green industry/enterprise. A strong political commitment and mindset will be required to achieve all the above and to phase down use of polythene and plastic in consumer goods packaging. The writer is working for UNDP Bangladesh