PRAN-RFL to launch “Let’s Save the Planet” campaign

PRAN-RFL, the country's leading business conglomerate, is going to launch a campaign titled "Let's Save the Planet" as part of its corporate social responsibility to protect the environment. Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam will inaugurate the "Let's Save the Planet" campaign at the capital's Hatirjheel Amphitheater on June 2.

As part of the campaign, on the same day, various types of garbage, especially single-use plastic, will be cleaned in 58 locations across Bangladesh and awareness will be created that people should not throw garbage here and there.

Eleash Mridha, Managing Director of PRAN Group and RN Paul, Managing Director of RFL Group, presented the details of the "Let's Save the Planet" campaign in a press conference held at the head office of PRAN-RFL Group at Badda in the capital on Wednesday.

Addressing the press conference, Eleash Mridha, Managing Director of PRAN Group said, “Plastic is a very important and widely used material in today's world. Plastic is one of the essential parts of our daily life. As the raw material of plastic is not biodegradable, it is one of the elements of environmental pollution. However, if proper management is ensured, it is possible to protect the environment from this pollution to a large extent.”

He also said that special attention is now being given to plastic recycling and management to ensure a sustainable environment. Because plastic recycling and management is one of the tools to prevent environmental pollution. PRAN-RFL Group has long been involved in plastic management as the country's biggest producer of household and processed food items.

RN Paul, Managing Director of RFL Group, said that PRAN-RFL has been involved with the plastic products recycling activities since 2012. The group has so far invested around Tk 350 crore in plastic recycling. Every year, about 32,000 tons of plastics, including single-use plastics, are recycled to make more than 100 products, which, if imported as raw materials, would have a financial value of more than Tk 450 crore.

He also said that a major sector of recycling could be industrial packaging, one of which is PET bottles. PET bottles and PET related packaging are widely used in Bangladesh. For the reason, PRAN-RFL is planning to set up a PET bottle recycling plant within the next two years, where even fabric can be made. The group initially plans to invest around Tk 500 crore for the PET bottle recycling plant.

PRAN-RFL Group will reduce the use of virgin plastic to one-third by 2030 and focus more on packaging that can be recycled. The group plans to bring about 25-30 percent of its production under plastic recycling through about one hundred plastic collection centers, PRAN-RFL officials informed it in the press conference.

Kamrul Islam, Executive Director of TEL Plastic, Nurul Afser, Head of Corporate Brand at PRAN-RFL Group and Touhiduzzaman, Assistant General Manager (Public Relations) were present on the occasion.