With the theme, “Ending Plastic Pollution” Awaj Foundation calls upon the government and partner organizations, brands and buyers to unite and take collective action against environmental pollution to ensure #Just_Transition.
This year’s theme urges every citizen, policymaker, business leader, and youth to take decisive steps:
Say no to single-use plastics
Support alternatives: jute, clay, bamboo, paper
Demand stricter enforcement of plastic bans
Promote recycling and innovation in waste management
Raise awareness in factories, and communities
Bangladesh, the first country to ban plastic bags in 2002, has shown leadership before—we can lead again.
Our rivers, land, and seas are filling up with plastic waste. Biodiversity and human health are under increasing threat. As pollution levels continue to rise daily, working-class people are suffering the most. Illnesses among them are on the rise, which not only disrupts productivity but also puts future generations at risk. Health hazards and associated costs are growing rapidly. In addition, air pollution in Dhaka, particularly in factory-dense areas, is among the highest in the world and is making workers sick.
The leaders emphasized the urgent need for installing functional Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) in factories, ensuring a living wage, gender-based violence-free safe workplaces, and strong, effective trade unions — all of which play a critical role in protecting the environment and tackling the ongoing climate crisis, ensuring Just Transition. Each year, over 800,000 tons of plastic waste is generated in Bangladesh—only a small fraction is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, waterways, and eventually, the ocean.
This year’s theme urges every citizen, policymaker, business leader, and youth to take decisive steps: Say no to single-use plastics Support alternatives: jute, clay, bamboo, paper Demand stricter enforcement of plastic bans Promote recycling and innovation in waste management Raise awareness in factories, and communities Bangladesh, the first country to ban plastic bags in 2002, has shown leadership before—we can lead again.
