Bangladesh

Policies to Promote Environmentally Sustainable Practices

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Bangladesh has established policies aimed at promoting environmentally sustainable practices in rubber cultivation, primarily through the Bangladesh Rubber Policy 2010. This policy restricts the clearing of forests for rubber plantations, allowing cultivation only in unclassified forest lands and certain barren uplands. While there are no ecologically sensitive regions where rubber cultivation is banned, the policy does emphasize the need for government approval before commercial cultivation. The use of chemical fertilizers is commonplace, but the policy encourages minimal pesticide and weedicides use, while traditional practices involving bio-fertilizers are still prevalent among farmers.

Although the Bangladesh Rubber Policy does not yet include specific provisions for environmental practices in rubber processing or certification for sustainable practices, the establishment of the Bangladesh Rubber Board in 2019 aims to update these policies. The board is working on guidelines that will address new issues and priorities in the rubber industry. Notably, the policy encourages the promotion of rubber wood utilization, supporting the processing and manufacturing of rubber wood products, which helps reduce pressure on forest timber. There is also a traceability system in place for rubber products, ensuring that each rubber sheet can be traced back to its source plantation, thereby enhancing transparency in the supply chain.

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Policies to Promote Socially Sustainable Practices

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Bangladesh's Rubber Policy 2010 aims to enhance socially sustainable practices by promoting rubber cultivation as a means of poverty alleviation and social upliftment. The policy supports the establishment of rubber gardens in remote, unfertile lands, providing employment opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged communities. This initiative not only helps improve the quality of life for local residents but also engages both male and female workers, contributing to the reduction of gender disparity in these communities. The government's target is to decrease the poverty level from 24.8% to 18.6% by 2020, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Additionally, the policy encourages the rehabilitation of tribal communities by discouraging their traditional practice of shifting cultivation. Many tribal individuals are employed in state-owned and privately-owned rubber gardens, particularly in hilly areas, helping to transition them away from less sustainable agricultural practices. While there are no specific provisions in the policy for the empowerment of women or comprehensive social security measures for laborers, some welfare initiatives exist, such as the Rubber Cultivation Project Welfare Fund, which supports laborers in need. Safety measures in rubber processing factories include effluent treatment plants and personal protective equipment to ensure worker safety, although these practices are not explicitly outlined in the policy.