Riding the Waves of Sustainable Change with AwareWave
The global challenge of plastic pollution has reached alarming levels, with waste accumulating in our oceans, landscapes, and communities at an unprecedented rate. If current trends continue, the amount of plastic waste produced globally is set to almost triple by 2060, leading to devastating consequences for ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. This crisis necessitates urgent action through reducing plastic use, promoting recycling, and educating people on sustainable waste management, especially in rapidly urbanising countries like Bangladesh, where increased plastic consumption and low awareness of proper disposal methods exacerbate the issue.
The AwareWave Programme: A Proactive Approach
In response to this urgent need for environmental stewardship, Unilever Bangladesh launched the AwareWave campaign under our employee volunteering platform, Proyash. This initiative was designed to educate and empower the next generation to combat plastic pollution effectively. Recognising that children and young people are the leaders of tomorrow, the programme targeted school students across Dhaka and Chattogram, aiming to raise awareness and instil sustainable habits regarding the importance of proper plastic waste management.
The AwareWave Programme was built on two primary objectives: To educate students about the detrimental effects of plastic pollution and the importance of adopting sustainable waste management practices such as waste segregation and recycling, and to inspire students to take active roles in combating plastic pollution within their communities.
Programme Implementation and Activities
We launched the AwareWave Programme from 2 to 6 June 2024, coinciding with World Environment Day, across 10 schools in Dhaka and Chattogram. The campaign was a collaborative effort between Sunsilk, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), and Proyash, demonstrating a strong commitment to community engagement and environmental sustainability, where 31 volunteers from Unilever Bangladesh, including senior leaders such as Zaved Akhtar, Chairman and Managing Director, and Zinnia Huq, Finance Director, led discussions on the non-degradable nature of plastic and the 3Rs of waste management—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. These sessions were designed to be engaging and informative, providing students with practical knowledge on how they can contribute to reducing plastic waste.
The AwareWave campaign received a large number of inspiring feedback, reaching approximately 1,000 students directly through the school sessions and potentially influencing over 20,000 individuals through the ripple effect of shared knowledge. The initiative not only raised awareness about the urgent need to tackle plastic pollution but also empowered students to take concrete actions in their daily lives.
Towards a More Sustainable Future
We at Unilever Bangladesh remain dedicated to combating plastic pollution through reduction, circulation and collaboration. The AwareWave programme exemplifies the impact of shared responsibility and collective action, laying the foundation for a sustainable future by empowering the younger generation. Unilever Bangladesh's commitment to sustainable living and environmental stewardship continues to drive positive change within communities.