From Tannery Waste to Biogas and Particle Boards: ILET and The Asia Foundation Build Sustainable Solutions in Bangladesh

On February 25, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Leather Engineering and Technology (ILET), University of Dhaka. This collaboration leverages the most advanced and innovative developments of the international leather sector to implement in Bangladesh’s tannery industry. The partnership focuses on promoting and adopting circularity practices and cleaner manufacturing processes across the industry. Most notably, it promotes ILET’s innovation in enzyme production to increase chemical efficiency in tanning processes among tannery entrepreneurs, industry experts, government agencies and ministries, and other relevant groups. 

The Foundation and ILET are committed to promoting cleaner practices throughout the industry; this collaboration involves piloting technology for manufacturing particle boards from leather shaving dust and exploring economic viability and sustainable waste management. ILET will also pilot a biogas and organic fertilizer plant from leftover leather pieces and raw trimmings and provide land for the biogas and fertilizer plant on the premises of ILET, University of Dhaka. They will engage its qualified research personnel to operate and maintain the plant.

Several key experts were present at the signing, including Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, professor and director of ILET, other distinguished institute professors, and Kazi Faisal bin Seraj, country representative for The Asia Foundation in Bangladesh.