Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Vietnam recently launched a joint $43-million programme to manage and reduce hazardous chemicals in textile industries. The initiative is being led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), with funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the support of the Basel & Stockholm Convention Regional Centre South-East Asia and the Natural Resources Defence Council.
Employing over 10 million people, the four nations’ textile sectors account for near 15 per cent of global clothing exports.
The programme will provide technical support and tools for small and medium enterprises and manufacturers to improve their knowledge and management of hazardous chemicals, guiding them to manage risks to workers, and eventually eliminate the worst chemicals from their production processes, an UNEP release said.
The textile sector is a major user of toxic ‘forever chemicals’.
The five-year program will bring the four countries together to align public policy on the textile sector with international best practices, including supply chain transparency, investment for chemical management and eco-innovation, and occupational health and safety, creating the enabling environment needed to phase out PFAS and other chemicals of concern.
