Leather Compliance Handbook BD

Manuel de conformité sociale et environnementale dans l’industrie du cuir au Bangladesh

The handbook aims to highlight the potential for improving social and environmental compliance, including Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), in the leather industry. Providing an operational translation of local laws, international standards and company codes, it describes the actions required to ensure that all operations along the supply chain, from the production of the raw material to the manufacturing of leather products, are consistent with national regulations and international environmental and social standards.

The handbook is based on a comprehensive value chain analysis of Bangladesh’s leather industry, which has been carried out from November 2016 to March 2017, and a review of the national legislation and international standards that are applicable to the leather industry. The analysis examined the requirements of social and environmental compliance in different nodes of the supply chain, i.e. slaughterhouses, traders of raw hides and skins, tanneries, and leather footwear producers.

A good knowledge of the state of technology in the leather industry is essential for moving the leather industry towards improved environmental practices and processes. The Bangladesh Labor Law and the Constitution of Bangladesh providea reference for challenges related to labor standards and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). Brands and buyers communicate their requirements mostly through corporate codes of conduct and restricted substances lists, but rarely present comprehensive environmental guidelines.

This manual is intended for practitioners. It identifies non-compliances – i.e. the scope for improvement, and comes up with corrective actions, which are related to social, environmental and economic implications. Generally, these recommendations refer to current best available techniques (BAT) or good practices that are sustained by national labor laws and international standards. Benefits are highlighted to underscore the relevance of social, environmental and economic sustainability for both workers and the factory management. If applicable and available, examples for concrete savings in different processes are given.

While the handbook is not prescriptive and cannot address every compliance related challenge, its value lies in providing guidance in making decisions that align with corporate and international standards. However, technical guidance and trainings may also be necessary to implement these recommendations.

The Handbook on Social and Environmental Compliance in Bangladesh’s Leather Industry has been developed through the joint collaboration of the Ministry of Commerce and the World Bank Group. By bringing together all the critical requirements in an easy to follow format as well as descriptions on how to meet standards for Environmental, Social and Quality compliance in one place, it provides a common source of information, around which the sector can build its knowledge and begin to strengthen its capacities.