Leather sector gets digital traceability Roadmap

A policy launch event of the LeatherTrace Bangladesh: Traceable and Circular Leather Production (TCLP) project was held at The Westin Dhaka on Wednesday, aiming to advance sustainability, traceability and global compliance in Bangladesh’s leather industry.

The event was organized by iDEA TREE and SERA Bangladesh under the SMEP project funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in partnership with University of Northampton, Aston University, University of Hertfordshire and Sustainable Leather Foundation.

Commerce Ministry Secretary (Acting) Md. Abdur Rahim Khan attended the event as chief guest, while industry leaders and representatives from associations, brands, NGOs, INGOs and UN agencies also joined the program.

A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of a policy blueprint titled “A Strategic Roadmap for Enhancing the Adoption of Digital Traceability in Bangladesh’s Leather Sector.” The roadmap outlines strategies to accelerate the adoption of digital traceability systems and improve sustainability in tannery operations.

Speakers emphasized the importance of circular practices, collaboration and digital innovation to strengthen Bangladesh’s competitiveness in global markets. They noted that improved traceability and sustainable production can reduce waste, increase efficiency and enhance brand value.

The program concluded with closing remarks by Kauser Ali, Head of Operations at iDEA TREE, who said the TCLP project has already contributed significantly to the sector through its baseline report, policy brief, carbon calculator and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) report.