Following the fledgling leather and leather products exports from Bangladesh due to lack of a functional Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at the Savar Tannery Industrial Estate (STIE) – where tanneries from Hazaribag were relocated – the Government is now planning to allow STIE-based individual tanneries to build their own waste treatment plants.
According to media reports, the Government’s move in this direction is aimed at expediting the process of getting the much-needed certification from the LWG as exporters currently face delays getting certificates from LWG owing to compliance issues (lack of functional ETP at STIE), due to which export of leather and leather products is taking a hit.
It may be mentioned here that obtaining LWG certification – LWG is made up of member brands, retailers, product and leather manufacturers, chemical and machinery suppliers, technical experts and other service providers that work together to maintain environmental stewardship protocols specifically for the leather manufacturing industry – is a must if any country wants to sell leather and leather goods at international rates.