ESDO Organized Country’s First-Ever Single-Use Plastic Free Fair!
More than 50 Entrepreneurs Showed that Plastic-Free Living is Possible
Dhaka 27th March 2022: SMEs showcase single-use plastic-free alternatives in the country’s first-ever plastic-free fair. Environment and Social Development Organization – ESDO organized the fair at three project locations Dhaka City, Rangpur City, and Betgari Union. In Dhaka city, the fair held on 25th and 26th March 2022 at the premises of Lalmatia Housing Society School and College.
ESDO organized these community fairs as part of an awareness and environmental education program under its project “Building Zero Waste Communities for a Pollution-Free Environment in Bangladesh”. The project focus on Building a Zero Waste community model for mitigating environmental health risks and accelerating community wellbeing as well as the circular economy in Bangladesh with is the major key player – Waste Workers. https://zerowaste.esdo.org/
The aim of the fair was to showcase plastic-free alternative products and to encourage community people to adopt zero waste living. The two-day-long fair was attended by people of different kinds. Around 50 stalls were installed altogether in three locations and all the products displayed were eco-friendly. Different Small and Mid-size Enterprises and plastic alternative producers showcased their products such as Clay Ornaments, Leaf Utensils, Paper cups, Handicrafts, Woodcrafts, Clay products/ Earth crafts/ pottery, Yarn swings and bags, Clay crafts and so on. No plastic packaging was used in the sale and purchase of products at the fair. The fair also consisted of events featuring documentaries on Zero waste and home composting, information on rooftop gardening, a display of how to easily manage the waste at home, etc. There were also organic food stalls that were completely eco-friendly and single-use plastic-free.
One of the plastic alternative producers, Mr. Rintu displayed Yarn swings and bags. According to him, ‘Single use plastic bags is continuously harming the environment and human health. The use of plastic bags can be stopped if alternatives are widely available. We are trying to make the alternative bags popular again and this fair is certainly one of the best ways to do that, he added.’
Entrepreneur Mr. Sazedur Rahman showcased paper cups. He said, “People nowadays can’t live without tea, and we see tea booths on every corner selling tea in single-use plastic cups since it’s cheap. However, if any form of tax is imposed on these plastic cups, the price of these cups would rise, increasing the need for paper cups.”
The fair was attended by Lalmatia Housing Society School and College’s Principals, Faculties and students; Zero Waste project Beneficiaries, CBO members’, local volunteers; Community people and print and electronic media.
Before the Dhaka fair, two similar fair was organized in Betgari Union on 7 & 8 January 2022 at Shahpara Center Playground, Gangachara Upazilla, and in Rangpur City on 24-25 March 2022.
Background
Zero Waste is a philosophy and a designed principle that goes beyond recycling to take a “whole system” approach to the flow of resources and waste through human society. It attempts to guide people to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where discarded materials become resources for others to use. Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO launched a unique and innovative project titled “Building Zero Waste Communities for a Pollution-Free Environment in Bangladesh”.
For more information please contact:
Khalilur Rahman
Sr. Program Associate – ESDO
Email: info@esdo.org,
khalilur@esdo.org
Mobile: +8801726053420
