Strengthening eco-friendly measures in textile industry: Call for effective action to reduce POPs

A national consultative workshop has called for effective measures to reduce the use and release of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and other Chemicals of Concern (CoCs) — substances highly harmful to the environment and public health — in Bangladesh's textile sector.

The textile industry, while being a cornerstone of Bangladesh's economy, faces significant environmental and health challenges due to the widespread use of hazardous chemicals. Many of these substances, particularly Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), are toxic, persist in the environment, and accumulate in living organisms, posing severe risks to ecosystems and human health. 

"The reduction of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a critical component of global environmental initiatives. Currently, water resources surrounding Dhaka are severely polluted, resulting in significant biodiversity loss. Moreover, POPs have been detected within the food industry, raising serious public health concerns," said Dr Farhina Ahmed, secretary of the environment, forest and climate change ministry. 

She was speaking as the Chief Guest at the National Consultation Workshop on "Reducing Uses and Releases of Chemicals of Concern, including Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), in the Textile Sector" organised by Department of Environment (DoE) and Environment and Social Development Organization- ESDO, held today at the DoE auditorium, Agargaon, Dhaka.

Recognising the dangers of such chemicals, a 5-year regional project was launched in 2022 under the funding of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and UNEP, with the goal of reducing the use and release of Chemicals of Concern (CoCs), including POPs, in the textile sectors of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Vietnam.

The project is being implemented by the Department of Environment (DoE), Government of Bangladesh, in coordination with the Basel Stockholm Convention Regional Centre-South East Asia (BSCRC-SEA), Indonesia, as the Regional Executing Agency. At the national level, ESDO serves as the National Executing Partner, with technical support from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), USA.

Dr Fahmida Khanom, additional secretary, MoEFCC, special guest of the workshop, emphasised the need to reduce POPs and Chemicals of Concern (CoCs) by adopting green chemicals. She proposed forming dedicated SME textile groups to identify POPs used in factories.

According to Dr Shahriar Hossain, senior technical adviser of ESDO, "Policy measures alone are not sufficient for sustainable change; individual awareness and responsibility are equally important. Effective chemical management requires active participation at the government, private, and personal levels."

"This project provides a strategic roadmap for Bangladesh's textile sector to transition from hazardous chemicals to environmentally friendly alternatives, ensuring compliance with international standards," said Dr Mahfuzul Haque, national project coordinator.

The workshop concluded with a strong call for transparency, innovation, and stricter enforcement of chemical regulations, reinforcing Bangladesh's commitment to building a greener textile sector.