- Bangladesh became the first country in the world to ban plastic bags in 2002. However, due to weak law enforcement, the country still sees a high usage of plastic.
- Approximately 24 kilograms (53 pounds) of plastic per capita are discarded yearly in the capital city, Dhaka, alone.
- Alternatives to plastic bags have been created using cassava, potato starch, cloth and jute, but they are more expensive than polythene.
- The high cost of these reusable bags is hindering the adoption of everyday eco-friendly alternatives.
On a busy morning in November 2024, a dramatic scene unfolded in a supermarket in Banani, Dhaka. Government officials, armed with security personnel, launched a joint operation to crack down on the widespread use of plastic bags. As the supermarket employees wrapped goods in the familiar crinkling plastic, officers moved in, ready to seize the items.
A clash of voices filled the air. Employees and customers alike protested, arguing that the alternatives were simply too costly and that banning plastic bags would bring significant everyday inconveniences.
This moment encapsulated the ongoing struggle Bangladesh has faced since becoming the first country in the world to ban plastic bags in 2002. While the intention — tackling the environmental and health crises caused by plastic waste — was noble, implementing the law has proved to be far more challenging than expected, shows a 2022 study.
The groundbreaking law was enforced too loosely over the two decades, allowing plastic bags to gradually creep back into the market.
The study mentions that, by 2006, as the government encouraged alternatives like jute and cloth bags, plastic bags had nearly disappeared from major retailers. However, the lack of strict enforcement left a gap that enabled plastic bags to re-emerge, first in large retail outlets and then in local markets.
A growing crisis: Plastic waste overwhelms Dhaka
A report by World Bank shows that Bangladesh’s per capita plastic consumption in urban areas increased to 9 kilograms (20 pounds) for the year 2020, from 3 kg (6.6 lbs.) in 2005. In Dhaka city alone, the figure is the highest at 24 kg (53 lbs.).
Though there is no study on the exact figure of single-use plastic bags in Bangladesh, the government’s Department of Environment estimates that at least 30% of the used plastic is single-use bags used for grocery purposes.
This staggering consumption contributes not only to the visible pollution of streets and waterways but also to severe public health concerns. Toxic chemicals from plastic bags leach into the environment, contaminating the air, soil and water, eventually entering the food chain, according to a report by Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).
The consequences of plastic waste are impossible to ignore. In Dhaka, clogged drains due to plastic bags are a daily reality, especially during the monsoon season.
Shahriar Hossain, a senior technical advisor at Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), says he believes that Bangladesh’s plastic waste crisis is largely due to lax enforcement of the ban. “The law exists, but without proper enforcement, plastic bags have made their way back into the market,” he says. Resistance from political and economic stakeholders further complicates the issue.
The alternatives
In the midst of these mounting challenges, a promising alternative is gaining traction: Biodegradable bags made from cassava roots. These innovative bags, developed by the company Ecospear Ltd., represent a step forward in Bangladesh’s battle against plastic waste.
As they’re made from cassava, a plant with potato-like roots native to South America, these biodegradable bags decompose naturally and don’t leave behind toxic residues in land and water. They resemble plastic, but their impact on the environment is vastly different.
“Our bags are completely non-toxic and safe for the environment,” says Mohammad Raihan, the founder and CEO of Ecospear. “No matter how they are disposed of, they will eventually biodegrade.”
The company was started in 2017 and, currently, two of its plants produce biodegradable bags, with demand continuously growing, mostly for international market like the USA, UK, Sweden, Spain and France.
He says they have been selling the product locally in minimal quantities. “However, we have recently partnered with some of the largest retail grocery chains in Bangladesh, such as Shwapno, and others for supplying our bags.”
While cassava-based biodegradable bags offer a glimmer of hope, they are not the only solution. Other alternatives include potato-based ‘Polka’ bags, and there are ‘Sonali’ bags that are made from cellulose extracted from jute.
Although these alternatives come at a higher cost compared to plastic bags, jute bags, once common in Bangladesh, remain a durable and reusable option.
One promising alternative is the Sonali bag. Developed in 2018 by Bangladeshi scientist Mubarak Ahmad Khan, the Sonali bag has garnered national and international attention for its innovative design.
“It is both eco-friendly and durable. However, the production cost is still nearly double that of regular polythene bags,” Khan says.
In 2018, the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) launched a pilot project to market Sonali bags. While the former government recognized its potential, it could not fully commercialize the product or enforce a strict ban on polythene. As a result, the Sonali bag failed to reach its full potential.
However, the current interim government has recently shown renewed interest in the project, allocating $8.2 million (1 billion takas) for the initiative in January 2025. “With this funding, we hope to produce 7 to 8 tons of Sonali bags daily,” Khan says.
High prices keep eco-friendly bags out of shoppers’ reach
Despite growing awareness about the environmental damage caused by plastic, many consumers remain reluctant to adopt eco-friendly options due to the higher costs.
“Many shoppers are hesitant to buy reusable bags because they’re used to getting polythene bags for free,” says Osman Ali, a retailer in Rayer Bazaar, Dhaka. “A typical jute bag, for example, often costs around $0.18 (22 takas), which is more than 10 times the price of a regular polythene bag.”
Reusable bags, depending on the quality and size, typically range from $0.12 (15 takas) to $0.20 (25 takas), a price that many consumers are unwilling to pay. In contrast, polythene bags cost only $0.012 (1.5 takas) to $0.016 (2 takas), with extra-large versions priced around $0.12 (15 takas).
The road ahead: Government action and public awareness
Bangladesh first attempted to regulate polythene in 2002 under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act of 1995, imposing heavy fines and even prison sentences on offenders. However, enforcement has remained inconsistent.
Despite significant obstacles, experts agree that the long-term solution to Bangladesh’s plastic pollution problem lies in changing consumer habits and making sustainable alternatives more affordable and accessible.
The cassava-based biodegradable bags offer a path forward, but they won’t solve the crisis. A multi-pronged approach is necessary — stricter enforcement of the plastic ban, government incentives for sustainable products, and a reduction in the price of cassava starch and other raw materials to make biodegradable alternatives more affordable.
“Our main challenge is the price competition against polybag, where we are paying 51% of taxes including import, sales and value added tax [VAT]. Meanwhile, the banned polybag producers — as they are mostly illegal — pay nothing, absolute 0%,” Raihan says.
Regarding the alternatives, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) who is leading the implementation of banning plastic bags after many years of formulating the law, tells Mongabay, “As the alternative, we are giving priority to the local ingredient jute because it is biodegradable and, at the same time, the jute farmers will get a sustainable market for their production.”
According to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), the country is the second largest jute producer in the world, amounting to 1.6 million tons annually.
Besides ensuring alternative options, Hossain emphasizes on proper enforcement on the law. “Enforcement should be ensured consistently across the country to create a market shift toward alternative bags. Once enforcement is in place, it will generate demand for polythene alternatives, which will, in turn, lead to increased production and a reduction in prices. Therefore, without strict enforcement, the transition to alternatives will not be successful,” he says.
Banner image: Vegetables in plactic bags in Bangladesh. Image by Scott Wallace / World Bank via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
Plastic pollution pushing Earth past all nine planetary boundaries: Report
Citation:
Islam, M. R., Ruponti, S. A., Rakib, M. A., Nguyen, H. Q., & Mourshed, M. (2022). Current scenario and challenges of plastic pollution in Bangladesh: A focus on farmlands and terrestrial ecosystems. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 17(6). doi:10.1007/s11783-023-1666-4
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