Bangladesh’s leather sector stands as one of the country’s most promising export-oriented industries, contributing significantly to economic growth, employment generation, and global trade. With an abundant supply of raw materials and a large workforce, the sector holds strong potential to expand its footprint in international markets. However, this potential remains largely untapped due to persistent challenges in meeting evolving global standards on environmental sustainability, occupational safety, and social compliance. As international buyers increasingly prioritise responsible production and certification requirements, the need for systemic transformation within the sector has become more urgent than ever.
The relocation of tanneries from Hazaribagh to the Savar Tannery Estate marked a critical step towards establishing a more environmentally compliant and socially responsible industry. Yet, structural limitations, gaps in environmental management systems, and weak worker-management engagement continue to hinder progress. In this context, the project “Improving Environmental and Social Conditions in the Savar Tannery Estate, Bangladesh” under the SMEP programme works with tanneries to strengthen workplace practices, promote environmental responsibility, and foster inclusive social dialogue. This case study explores how gradual, internally driven change supported by targeted capacity building and facilitation can reshape workplace culture, using the journey of one tannery as a lens to understand broader sectoral transformation.
