Unilever Bangladesh Ltd (UBL), the country's leading Fast Moving Consumer Goods company, joined forces with Kewkradong Bangladesh (KB) to spearhead the International Coastal Cleanup 2025 at St. Martin's Island, one of Bangladesh's most ecologically sensitive coastal areas, says a press release.
During the event, 500 dedicated volunteers from universities and local communities collaborated to remove 1850 kilograms of marine debris from the island's beaches, ensuring safe disposal on the mainland. The cleanup effort targeted a variety of waste items, including food wrappers, plastic beverage bottles, bottle caps, plastic bags, utensils, lids and abandoned fishing nets helping mitigate the environmental impact of unmanaged waste and intensive tourism.
This year, the cleanup was strategically organized on the first weekend of the tourist season to maximize awareness and encourage responsible behavior among visitors. Volunteers conducted educational sessions and community activities, aiming to promote proper plastic waste disposal and inspire long-term behavioral changes.
The initiative also sought to strengthen local stewardship and spread the environmental message to a wider audience through youth engagement.
Kewkradong Bangladesh, the country coordinator for the US-based Ocean Conservancy, has led beach cleanups at St. Martin's Island for 15 years, contributing valuable data to global marine debris records. Their ongoing efforts along the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula and St. Martin's Island have played a vital role in advancing the understanding of marine pollution in Bangladesh.
As a pioneer in plastic waste value chain intervention, Unilever Bangladesh continues to drive transformative change in the country's waste management landscape. The company operates Bangladesh's largest plastic waste management initiative in Chattogram, develops innovative solutions for virgin plastic reduction and refills, and consistently works to raise consumer awareness nationwide.
Shamima Akhter, Director - Corporate Affairs, Partnerships and Communications, Unilever Bangladesh Limited, said,"Plastic packaging plays an essential role in delivering safe, high-quality products, but its environmental impact must be addressed through responsible design, reduced virgin plastic use, and greater circulation of recycled materials. At Unilever Bangladesh, we are working with partners to remove more plastic from the environment than we place on the market, while supporting systems that enable proper collection and waste management."
