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From Pollution to Progress

Leather worker, Bangladesh
  • Public
  • 13 October 2025
  • Tools, Guidelines & Briefings
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Leather

Lessons from the SMEP Programme in the Savar Tannery Industrial Estate, Bangladesh

SMEP learning paper: From pollution to progress

People working and living around the Savar Tannery Estate in Bangladesh face serious environmental and social challenges. This learning paper shares baseline findings from an ETI project aimed at tackling these issues. It explores both the systemic barriers and the factors that can drive change, focusing on working conditions, occupational health and safety (OHS), environmental management, and wider community impact. This work is part of the UK Government-funded Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme

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