Unilever Bangladesh Sets Industry Standard with Sustainable Manufacturing and Circular Plastic Initiatives
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Unilever Bangladesh Limited (UBL) has solidified its position as a pillar of the nation’s manufacturing sector, maintaining a presence in nine out of every ten households across the country. Since commencing operations on the banks of the Karnaphuli River in 1964, the company’s Kalurghat facility has evolved into a symbol of domestic industrial capacity, with the Bangladesh government holding a 39.25 percent stake in the enterprise since 1973. Beyond its commercial footprint, the company has integrated global sustainability goals into its operational core, aligning with the World Environment Day 2026 theme of “Climate Change: Today’s Action, Tomorrow’s Security.”
Since 2010, the Kalurghat plant has systematically reduced its environmental impact through a series of technology-driven upgrades. By replacing conventional steam-powered vacuum systems with dry vacuum pumps and installing magnetic bearing chillers, the facility has achieved significant energy efficiency, saving thousands of gigajoules annually. Heat recovery systems integrated into generator exhausts now repurpose waste heat for steam production. These interventions have collectively reduced total energy consumption by 31 percent compared to 2010 levels, while solar energy capacity has been expanded to one megawatt. Through renewable energy certificates, the company has also avoided over 90 kilotons of carbon dioxide emissions.
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Water conservation and waste management have seen similarly aggressive optimization. Through a 4 million taka investment in reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration systems, the plant has improved water recycling capacity by 60 percent. Monitoring via real-time flowmeters has led to a 33 percent reduction in water usage. Furthermore, the facility has doubled its chemical oxygen demand (COD) management capacity, and effluent treatment sludge is now repurposed as fuel in cement manufacturing, marking a strategic shift toward a circular economy where every unit of waste is viewed as a potential resource.
Recognizing the acute challenge of plastic pollution in urban centers, Unilever partnered with the Chittagong City Corporation and the development organization YPSA in 2022 to launch an integrated waste management project across 41 wards. The initiative focuses on source-based waste segregation, the professionalization of waste workers, and the establishment of a robust recycling value chain. Between June 2022 and April 2026, the project recovered over 32,000 tons of plastic. Beyond environmental impact, the program has provided over 3,000 waste workers with health and safety training, financial incentives, and access to group health insurance, significantly improving the livelihoods and social security of the informal waste sector.
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To address plastic consumption at the consumer level, Unilever has introduced “U-Refill,” an eco-friendly service that allows customers to refill personal containers with products like shampoo, handwash, and dish liquid at automated digital stations. By eliminating the need for new plastic bottles, the system offers consumers price discounts ranging from 8 to 10 percent. Launched in November 2025 in collaboration with Transform and Omni Strategy, the initiative is currently being piloted in Dhaka and Narsingdi. With plans to expand to 10,000 retail locations nationwide, UBL aims to marry industrial growth with environmental stewardship, providing a blueprint for sustainable development in Bangladesh.
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