Global Stakeholder Meeting of ‘Circular Economy in Bangladesh’s Apparel Industry’ (CREATE) Project, funded by DANIDA.

 

2^nd Global stakeholders’ meeting of CREATE project was held on Tuesday, June 3, 2023, presided over by project leader Dr. Mohammad B. Rana, Associate professor at Aalborg University Business School. The meeting began with a short presentation by Dr. Rana on circular economy (CE) mapping in Bangladesh. His presentation illustrated the condition of global textile waste, landfill, and incineration by top 20 countries followed by a discussion on mapping of pre-consumer textile waste transactions, use, recycling, circular technology, and digital traceability condition in Bangladesh.

Global stakeholders of CREATE such as Prof. Dr. S.M. Shafiul Alam, local deputy-coordinator from Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Prof. Olav Jull Sørensen from Access to Innovation Denmark, Prof. Dr. Matthew M.M.C. Allen from Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, Warren Bishop and Munir Uddin Shamim from Ethical Trading Initiative, UK, Holly Syrett from Global Fashion Agenda, Copenhagen, Michelle van Velthoven Utzon-Frank from (Danish Fashion and Textile (DM&T), Nin Castle from Reverse Resources, and Dr. Abu Sadat from Manchester Fashion Institute, have presented their views on different perspectives. Their reflections and insights would help improve the research design of CREATE.

Apart from presentation on circular economy mapping, Dr. Rana has briefed on the updates of CREATE and the activities planned in August 2023, such as organizing a PhD course, field visit, and survey on work-package 1 and 2.

Prof. Matthew and Prof. Olav have presented on how to learn from Chinese textile Circularity system. They have suggested to compare how national institutions and policy incentives impact circular economy transition in Bangladesh, China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam etc. Understanding on comparative circular economy transitions and the role of state and global brands in this process would add value to the existing knowledge on green transition and upgrading of suppliers in different apparel-supplying countries.

Michelle, Nin, and Holly have presented on how their respective organizations in collaboration with brands can help CREATE team to access suppliers in Bangladesh for survey and data collection. Shamim from ETI has presented the model as to how they can help the research project in data collection from suppliers in Bangladesh.

All stakeholders expressed their willingness to support CREATE team for achieving the outcome as planned.

In the end, Dr. Abu Sadat presented his current research on apparel technologies particularly the blockchain and digital traceability in apparel circular system. His research is in line with the work of Prof. Lindsay Whitfield from Copenhagen Business School. Prof. Lindsay focuses on technologies related to circular economy and she has drafted a short report on different kinds of fiber technologies used in textile-circularity and the firms using those technologies in the world. Dr. Rana has suggested to have a joint meeting with Lindsay and Abu Sadat to figure out the synergy between their research that can contribute to global apparel CE transition and traceability.

The project leader, Dr. Rana thanked everyone and concluded the meeting.

 

CREATE Project Partners: