THE GREEN BLUEPRINT

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Dr. Mohammad Sujauddin, an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental Science and Management at North South University and an expert in Industrial Ecology, brings a fresh perspective to the intersection of research and sustainability in Bangladesh. With a PhD in Systems Innovation from The University of Tokyo, he is passionately driving efforts to enhance resource efficiency and decouple industrial impacts in Bangladesh, aiming for a sustainable future.


 

What is the state of environmental studies in Bangladesh and what is the room for improvement in this sector?
The field of environmental studies in Bangladesh is steadily gaining momentum and showing promising growth. Interestingly, the private sector was instrumental in introducing environmental studies to higher education in Bangladesh. A key milestone came when a distinguished member of North South University’s (NSU) Board of Trustees attended the 1992 UNCED Global Summit, inspiring NSU to establish the country’s first Department of Environmental Studies in 1994. Over time, the department evolved, becoming the Department of Environmental Science and Management offering diverse undergraduate and graduate programs. This is an opportune time for Bangladesh to introduce specialised graduate programs to tackle emerging global and regional challenges. Programs such as Masters in Industrial Ecology, Environmental Sustainability, Climate Change, Urban Environmental Management, and Environmental Technology can equip future professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to tackle contemporary environmental issues. It would also enable Bangladesh to keep pace with global advancements, fostering a workforce capable of driving sustainable development in the country and beyond.

 

Dr. Mohammad Sujauddin
Associate Professor
Chair and Graduate Program Coordinator
Head of Decoupling Lab
Department of Environmental Science & Management
North South University

 

From your research on the environmental impacts of various industries in Bangladesh, what have been your major findings and what are your recommendations for these industries?
My research has primarily focused on tracking the flows of vital resources such as steel, aluminium, copper, glass, cement, sand, lead, zinc, and plastics within our industrial systems and assessing the environmental impacts associated with their use. The textile industry has also been a recent focus due to its dual economic and environmental significance. The environmental impacts of these industries are tied to the technology they employ, and assessments generally encompass the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. Defining an appropriate system boundary is crucial, as Bangladesh is primarily an import-dependent country resource-wise, and it is usually the manufacturing processes and their sub-systems that are the primary contributors to environmental impacts within our borders. Findings from my research indicate that certain industries, such as plastics and metals, demonstrate impressive resource and impact decoupling. Resource decoupling minimises primary resource extraction for economic output, while impact decoupling focuses on minimising environmental impacts. A notable feature here is the inherent vibrancy of the informal sector, which plays a crucial decoupling role by promoting circularity through urban mining and secondary resource utilisation. Metal recycling in areas such as Dholaikhal and the impressive plastic recycling value chain are excellent examples of resource efficiency achieved through these informal sector activities.
I recommend our policymakers focus on context-specific solutions that preserve and enhance our waste management and recycling capabilities rather than blindly emulating the strategies of developed nations. While learning from global best practices is useful, we must not be blind to the inherently problematic and unsustainable practice of polluting the environment to achieve economic growth and cleaning up later, as prescribed in most development narratives. Governance should integrate the informal sector and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to drive sustainable growth, as demonstrated in Sitakunda Ship-Breaking yards and Dholaikhal. Promoting Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs) can enhance resource sharing and circularity by connecting informal supply chains with modern practices. We should implement stricter policies and cleaner technologies for major pollution sources like brick kilns and textiles, and encourage urban mining and recycling to reduce environmental impacts and reliance on imports.

While the ban on plastic bags is a welcome initiative for Bangladesh, is its abrupt implementation realistic?
It was indeed abrupt. Our investigation into this sector revealed that the number one source of plastic pollution in the country was packaging waste, particularly packaging made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Once these packaging materials reach the end of their life cycle, they lack an effective supply chain for collection, recycling, or reuse. This imposes a substantial environmental burden. However, I believe that the plastic industry harbours tremendous potential to transform into a sustainable sector for our economy. The sector’s importance must not be understated, as a complete and sudden ban on plastic threatens to be unsustainable in the long run as the economy struggles to find alternatives. We often champion alternatives to plastic without assessing their full environmental impact and economic viability, overestimating their utility and scalability.
To overcome this challenge, we should look inward and find natural alternatives to plastic that are indigenously available, sustainable, and culturally acceptable. One way to do this could be by mainstreaming MSMEs into the sector.
Ultimately, the right way to reduce plastic pollution is a gradual, research-driven, and sustainable pathway, facilitated by innovative and indigenous alternatives.

 


WHILE LEARNING FROM GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES IS USEFUL, WE MUST NOT BE BLIND TO THE INHERENTLY PROBLEMATIC AND UNSUSTAINABLE PRACTICE OF POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND CLEANING UP LATER, AS PRESCRIBED IN MOST DEVELOPMENT NARRATIVES. 


 

What are some major challenges at local administrative levels in making environmentally conscious data-driven decisions?
Trust among different stakeholders remains a significant challenge, and this is something we encountered repeatedly in our research. When it comes to data, accessibility is only one part of the problem. There are additional concerns that need to be addressed. In most cases, the data is unreliable, often undigitised, scattered across various sources, and lacks proper time series maintenance. The most critical issue, however, lies in the mindset of our policymakers and the mechanisms through which policies are formulated. For various resources, it is still possible to reproduce reliable historical data by employing a combination of methodologies. Achieving this, though, requires smooth and effective coordination among ministries. Once again, the science and tools are available. What is needed is effective implementation.

What are the current climate challenges faced by Bangladesh and how can we address them?
Bangladesh faces significant climate challenges, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events like cyclones and floods, river erosion, and increasing heat stress. These issues threaten agriculture, infrastructure, public health, and livelihoods, particularly in coastal and low-lying areas. Addressing them requires technical solutions like resilient infrastructure, sustainable water management, climate-smart agriculture, and ecosystem conservation. Additionally, robust policy frameworks, community participation, and international climate financing are essential to build resilience and ensure sustainable development. From an industrial ecology perspective, circular economy practices such as waste-to-energy systems, resource-efficient manufacturing, and industrial symbiosis can play a key role in mitigating these challenges. Promoting renewable energy integration, cleaner production technologies, and closed-loop systems will reduce emissions and resource stress.

 

Photograph by Shuvo Mridha

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THE GREEN BLUEPRINT

Dr. Mohammad Sujauddin, an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental Science and Management at North South University and an expert in Industrial

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