Unilever Bangladesh strengthens social protection for informal waste workers

Unilever Bangladesh Limited (UBL) has expanded safety and social protection support under its Plastic Waste Management Initiative, aimed at strengthening sustainable plastic waste management through community-based interventions, the company stated.

As part of the initiative, UBL distributed protective equipment to 1,673 plastic waste collectors in Chattogram City Corporation areas at an event in Chattogram. The gear included safety vests, gumboots, rubber gloves, helmets, goggles, and iron hooks, designed to improve occupational safety and reduce exposure to hazardous waste.

UBL also distributed 170 first-aid boxes to local scrap shops (bhangarwalas) to support immediate response to minor workplace injuries, the company stated. Source-segregation awareness was expanded in schools and madrasas, with three-bin systems introduced in 50 institutions during the event.

The company stated that it previously provided safety equipment to 3,700 waste workers and installed three-bin systems in 61 schools. It added that the initiative has enabled the collection of more than 30,000 tonnes of plastic waste to date, and has introduced insurance coverage and financial assistance mechanisms to strengthen social protection for waste workers and their families.

Based on monitoring and field evaluations, UBL stated that the interventions have contributed to reductions in health risks and workplace accidents, alongside lower infection rates, reduced medical expenses, and improved productivity. The company stated that the programme has also delivered socio-economic gains, including higher incomes, increased savings, and improved living standards through safer working conditions and structured incentives.

Shamima Akhter, director – corporate affairs, partnerships, and communications at Unilever Bangladesh, stated, "At Unilever Bangladesh, we believe that advancing environmental sustainability must go hand in hand with improving lives. Through our Plastic Waste Management Initiative, we have been working in Chattogram since 2022 and have made strong progress. However, waste workers still face challenges due to the informal nature of their work. We have been continuously working to strengthen safety and social protection for informal waste workers and to build a more inclusive and responsible plastic waste management system."

UBL stated that it plans to expand the initiative to create broader environmental and social impact.