Bangladesh Leather Industry Gets Three-Year ZDHC Push to Meet Global Chemical Standards

Bangladesh’s leather industry is stepping up efforts to improve chemical management as manufacturers face growing pressure from international buyers to meet environmental and sustainability requirements.

The Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather goods and Footwear Exporters Association (BFLLFEA) and the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Foundation are working together on a three-year program aimed at helping leather and tannery businesses adopt better chemical management practices and strengthen their position in global markets.

Funded by the French Development Agency (AFD), the 36-month program is designed specifically to support leather manufacturing businesses. Swiss specialist firm ECOPSIS and Bangladesh-based Amin & Jahan Corporation Limited (A&J) are responsible for implementing the program.

Participating factories will receive financial support for registration, platform licensing and access to key ZDHC tools, reducing the cost barriers to adopting the system. The program will also provide technical assistance at factory level, covering Chemical Inventory Lists, InCheck reporting and progress towards ZDHC Supplier to Zero Level 1 and Level 2 credentials.

For the industry, the program could bring benefits beyond environmental compliance. Better chemical control can improve production efficiency and reduce operating costs while helping manufacturers meet the requirements of international buyers.

BFLLFEA Vice Chairman Maksudur Rahman Shopan said the focus should be on practical factory-level support rather than compliance alone. He said improved chemical management could reduce chemical costs by up to 15%, while helping companies compete more effectively in European and American markets.

The initiative also comes as Bangladesh seeks to expand its leather and footwear exports towards its $5 billion target by 2030. Stronger environmental performance will be important if the country is to attract more international buyers and move further into higher-value global supply chains.

Environmental infrastructure remains another challenge for the sector. Industry representatives have linked stronger environmental performance with the need to improve the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Dhaka’s leather zone.

For Bangladesh’s leather industry, the ZDHC program therefore represents more than a sustainability initiative. It could help manufacturers improve chemical efficiency, meet changing buyer requirements and build greater competitiveness as the sector works towards its long-term export ambitions.