Classical Handmade Products (CHP) was founded in 2008 with the aim to create decent jobs in rural areas, preserve traditional craftmanship, and protect the environment by manufacturing sustainable products. Bangladesh has one of the largest population of people living in poverty in the world. While the booming textile industry in the country is responsible for much human and environmental misery, it also offers people a chance to take destiny into their own hands. Having witnessed the multifaceted social and environmental impact of Bangladesh’s integration in global value chains, Md. Tauhid Bin Abdus Salam knows that with the right approach, it offers a way to lift marginalised people out of poverty and bring positive change to rural communities. Tauhid has made it his goal to bring opportunities to people and communities in one of the poorest rural regions of the world, northern Bangladesh. Based on a partnership Consulting Service International (CSI) and Classical Handmade Products (CHP), Tauhid reached out to ultra-poor and other disadvantaged individuals to offer them a job at his factory. A safe working environment, training, benefits, and merit-based rewards are provided, protecting and empowering every worker to reach their (financial and professional) goals, while staying close to their families. This has especially empowered female workers. For example, Obiron Nesa was not just able to lift herself and her family out of poverty after joining the workforce, but now also uses her skills and experience to teach and lead other women in the factory. Tauhid also actively contributes to the development of the local community by financing schools, infrastructure and providing necessary goods to people in need. The factory follows a comprehensive sustainability strategy put together in collaboration with CSI. Its operation contributes to the advancement of Sustainable Development Goals, namely Poverty Alleviation, Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Responsible Production and Consumption. Using sustainable materials, eco-friendly processes and traditional manual techniques, CHP produces local ingenuities for Western consumption. In total, the company has four locations and continues to grow as it expands its product range. Sources: S Dilip Roy, Khagrachhari. 2017. "Welcoming Development". The Daily Star. Click Here Flynn, Patricia, Milenko Gudić, and Tay Keong Tan, eds. Global Champions of Sustainable Development. Routledge, 2019.
Visit partner website: www.rugsbd.com
Consulting Service International Ltd. (CSI) was founded in Hong Kong in 2005. One year later, it opened a liaison office in Dhaka, Bangladesh to cater the dynamics in the textile, footwear and leather goods industry. Apart from their presence in Asia, CSI is also represented by consultants in Berlin, Germany and Lisbon, Portugal. Their international team of consultants supports clients from the private and public sector with sustainable developments in the textile and leather industry. They are working in all major production markets of the Global South and Europe. Currently, projects are run in more than 7 countries, including China, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Ukraine. The international, multilingual team combines vast experience in the field of sustainability management and the application of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies, sharing a genuine interest in the challenges they undertake on their clients’ behalf.
Visit partner website: www.applied-csr.com