Unilever Bangladesh partners with IBA for research on plastic circularity

Unilever Bangladesh (UBL), the country's leading fast moving consumer goods company, has partnered with the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka, on two new projects under its industry-academia partnership. 

The projects include commissioning research to increase understanding of plastic circularity in the context of Bangladesh and providing brand sponsorship to enhance the university academic building, reads a recent press release. 

The research on plastic recycling and waste management will be conducted by Prof Sheikh Morshed Jahan, Prof Dr Melita Mehjabeen, Prof Dr Khaled Mahmud, Prof Dr Rezaul Kabir, Kaniz Fatema, and Orpita Oysharja along with a multidisciplinary team of esteemed faculty members from IBA.

The research will aim to develop a methodology that addresses challenges faced by recyclers, while also emphasising producers and consumers' accountability and responsibility in plastic waste management. 

Additionally, it will seek to assess Bangladesh's position in the evolution of plastic circularity within the market and identify feasible models tailored to the local context. Furthermore, the research will outline gaps in current infrastructure and propose the role of public and private entities in constructing a sustainable model for plastic recycling.

While speaking about the collaboration, Zaved Akhtar, chairman and managing director of Unilever Bangladesh Limited said, "As a part of our global commitment to improve the health of our planet, we have been driving innovative approaches to plastic waste management since 2020. 

"As we continue to explore avenues to create a sustainable plastic management ecosystem, it is essential to collaborate with academia. We are pleased to join hands with IBA and collaborate to help us understand the industry's current challenges and guide us toward our collective goal of sustainable plastic waste management."

On the prospects of this collaboration, IBA faculty member Prof Mohammad A Momen  emphasised the transformative potential of industry-academia collaboration in fostering innovation and enriching learning experiences.

He said, "I am hoping that this collaboration between Unilever and IBA will cultivate a rich exchange of ideas, foster mutual learning, and pave the way for innovative solutions that address contemporary challenges in the fast-changing business world."

Built on the back of strong, well-established and purposeful brands, Unilever Bangladesh has also decided to extend this partnership by branding the premises with important reminders across health and hygiene, with the presence and usage of notable brands such as Lifebuoy (germ-free hand wash), Pureit (access to purified water), Domex (germ-free toilet) and Horlicks (nutritional enhancement). 

Unilever Bangladesh actively collaborates with students and graduates of IBA beyond formal partnerships, focusing on skill enhancement and career prospects. UBL is renowned for fostering Bangladesh's next generation of leaders, offering flagship programs like the Unilever Leadership Internship Programme, Unilever Future Leaders Programme, and BizMaestros—a campus business competition that has been running for 14 years. These initiatives not only provide real-world business experiences but also offer a platform for the nation's youth to demonstrate their abilities on a global scale.