Twenty members of the Leather Development Forum (LDF) joined a two day training on Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD), held from 5 to 7 May in Gazipur. The training was organised by Ethical Trading Initiative Bangladesh in collaboration with Bangladesh Labour Foundation, aiming to strengthen due diligence practices in the leather sector.
A key priority of this initiative is the development of a sectoral HREDD way forward plan, led by sectoral experts and grounded in the operational and policy realities of the tannery sector. The engagement served as an important step in bringing industry actors together to build a shared understanding of risks, responsibilities, and practical pathways for improvement. By aligning perspectives across LDF members, the process aims to support a more coordinated and consistent approach to human rights and environmental due diligence at sector level.
The Leather Development Forum (LDF) played a key role in developing the outline of the Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) training toolkit, contributing through both an input workshop and a validation workshop. Building on this process, LDF members joined the recent training and reflected on a shared understanding of the sector’s focus areas, reinforcing collective direction for future action. Participants explored key elements of HREDD and approaches to prevention, mitigation, and remediation, with a focus on challenges specific to the tannery sector. The engagement also provided space for LDF members to reflect on shared constraints, exchange experiences, and consider the roles of businesses, workers, and external stakeholders in promoting responsible practices. These reflections are expected to directly inform the structure and priorities of the sectoral way forward plan.
