Unplastic is a global action campaign against plastic pollution, born in Bangladesh and built on a simple conviction: that lasting change begins with people, not just policy. Launched in 2023 by Green Lead Society in partnership with Sonali Bioplastics, Unplastic Bangladesh invited individuals and communities across the country to collect plastic waste, dispose of it responsibly, and run Plastic Pollution 101 sessions in their neighbourhoods — creating a chain reaction of awareness and behavioural change from the ground up. That grassroots energy now powers something bigger: a youth-led digital platform tracking plastic pollution across all eight divisions of Bangladesh, combining a live data dashboard, and national campaigns that have reached over 100,000 people. Together, they form a single mission — turning Bangladesh’s plastic crisis from an invisible emergency into a public conversation, and a solvable one.
Plastic Waste Dashboard
All 8 divisions of Bangladesh · Demo data · 2024
| Division | Waste (kt/yr) | Collection rate | River plastic index | Single-use share | Risk level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka | 1,240 | 48% | 82/100 | 64% | Critical |
| Chittagong | 680 | 41% | 74/100 | 58% | Critical |
| Rajshahi | 310 | 35% | 61/100 | 52% | High |
| Khulna | 290 | 32% | 78/100 | 55% | High |
| Sylhet | 220 | 38% | 55/100 | 48% | Moderate |
| Barishal | 195 | 28% | 70/100 | 51% | High |
| Mymensingh | 175 | 30% | 50/100 | 46% | Moderate |
| Rangpur | 155 | 29% | 44/100 | 43% | Moderate |
Waste share by division
Key pollution hotspots
- Buriganga River, Dhaka — severe industrial + municipal plastic loading
- Karnaphuli River, Chittagong — port discharge and urban runoff
- Sundarbans buffer zone, Khulna — plastic threatening UNESCO mangrove ecosystem
- Padma riverbank, Rajshahi — agricultural plastic and riverine accumulation
- Coastal chars, Barishal — remote areas with zero waste collection
- Haor wetlands, Sylhet — seasonal flooding spreading plastic across wetlands
why participate?
- Become a part of a global movement and keep your community plastic free
- The top participants will receive gift hampers including goodies and certificates.
- Every participant will receive an e-certificate
- Selected participants get an invitation to join the closing ceremony
Impact at a glance
Want to see the full details? Check out our Impact Report !
Social media challenge
option 1: Clean up Plastic
- Participation is open to individuals.
- Pick up the plastic in a designated area and post one of the following types of contents :
- (a)Pictures of the area before and after cleaning up the plastic Or(b) Videos of the cleanup operation – Time Lapse or Regular videos.
- Upload your content as a public Facebook post or at CLAN with the hashtags mentioned below ( Mandatory)
- Sample Caption: “I’m excited to be part of @Unplastic Bangladesh2024 alongside @Green Lead, @Sonali Bioplastics, and @Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh. Now it’s your turn to participate and win exciting prizes!” #unplasticbangladesh #greenlead #sonalibioplastics #embassyofthenetherlands #plasticpollution
- Fill out the submission form below
- Keep sharing your post for wider social media reach!
option 2: Take a Plastic Pollution session
Take a Plastic Pollution 101 session with 10+ participants with our provided slides.
DETAILS OF OPTION 2
- Join the campaign as an individual.
- Organize a 15-20 minute knowledge session with 10+ participants at your classroom, home, or any suitable location.
- In the knowledge session, you are expected to deliver a presentation using the slides provided below.
- Capture a few pictures during the knowledge session showing you and your audience.
- Upload your content as a public Facebook post or at CLAN with the hashtags mentioned below ( Mandatory)
- Sample Caption: “I’m excited to be part of @Unplastic Bangladesh2024 alongside @Green Lead, @Sonali Bioplastics, and @Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh. Now it’s your turn to participate and win exciting prizes!” #unplasticbangladesh #greenlead #sonalibioplastics #embassyofthenetherlands #plasticpollution
- Fill out the submission form below
- Keep sharing your post for wider social media reach.
Photo Exhibiton
The venues where these events were organized, along with their submission links, are listed below:
Campaign Gallery
