SCIP Plastics Project, CUET

An awareness building and dissemination campaign titled “Sustainable Plastic-Free Marine Environment” was held on 15 November 2025 at Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View as part of the SCIP Plastics Project. The program brought together German experts, representatives from CUET and KUET, and officials from UGC, the Ministry of Environment, DoE, Port Authority, City Corporation, CDA, CWASA, IEB, and partner organizations.

Joining the event virtually, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Honorable Advisor, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of Goverment of the People's Republic of Bangladesh highlighted the growing environmental and economic risks of excessive plastic use in Bangladesh and emphasized the need to make university campuses plastic-free while promoting sustainable, locally produced alternatives.

The Honorable Vice-Chancellor of CUET, along with the Vice-Chancellor of KUET, also addressed the session, stressing the importance of academic leadership and joint institutional efforts in advancing a plastic-responsible future.

During the session, members of the SCIP Plastics team delivered presentations on awareness initiatives, landfill and STS management, waste flow analysis, and port-area activities conducted under the project.
The session was led by Chief Patron Prof. Dr.-Ing. Eckhard Kraft and chaired by Scientific Director Prof. Dr. Farzana Rahman Zuthi.

The event concluded with shared commitments to strengthen collaborative action and advance evidence-based solutions toward a cleaner, greener, and plastic-responsible Bangladesh. ♻️💙

A discussion meeting titled “Way Forward with Solid Waste Management Initiatives at CUET” was held today, Wednesday, 15 October 2025, at 12:40 PM, in the Syndicate Hall of Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET).

The event was organized by the SCIP Plastics Project, bringing together members of the Waste Management Committee, CUET. In addition to the committee members, the Honorable Vice-Chancellor of CUET, the Director of Planning and Development, and the Director of IET attended the meeting and shared valuable insights during the discussion.

During the session, Prof. Dr. Farzana Rahman Zuthi, representing the SCIP Plastics Project, presented key findings on waste generation and classification within the CUET campus.

The discussion focused on topics such as the pilot operation of the waste management system, waste flow mapping, determination of bin numbers and placement, and the process of waste segregation and analysis.

The meeting concluded with strategic guidance to implement the initiative campus-wide, aiming to transform CUET into a fully waste-free campus in the near future. 🌿♻️

Exciting Research Updates from the SCIP Plastics Project!

We are delighted to announce the publication of three significant research papers by our team in leading scientific journals for 2025! These works explore sustainable alternatives to plastics, with a spotlight on jute-based solutions and policy interventions for marine plastic pollution.

Our recent publications:

“Jute bags as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic bags in Bangladesh: Rethinking the sole reliance on life cycle assessment”
Sustainable Production and Consumption (Q1 | CiteScore: 22.5 | Impact Factor: 9.6)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2025.03.010

“Challenges and prospects for the substitution of plastic products with jute in the context of Bangladesh—a social study”
Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Q1 | CiteScore: 6.6 | Impact Factor: 5.59)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-025-36159-z

“Plastic Waste in Marine Ecosystems: Identification Techniques and Policy Interventions”
Water and Soil Pollution (Q1 | CiteScore: 4.6 | Impact Factor: 3.44)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-025-08092-x

A heartfelt thank you to all our co-authors, the incredible SCIP Plastics Project team, and our Scientific Director, Prof. Dr. Mst. Farzana Rahman Zuthi, for their unwavering support and guidance throughout this journey.

At SCIP, we believe that sharing knowledge isn’t about self-promotion, but about empowering others—researchers, advocates, and changemakers—who are striving for a sustainable future. We hope our work adds value to ongoing dialogues and inspires further action in plastic alternatives.

Let’s keep the conversation—and the momentum—going!

⭐️⭐️𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐏 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭⭐️⭐️
Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET) invites applications from the eligible candidates of Bangladeshi citizens to fill the following post (𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 and 𝗠𝗟𝗦𝗦 (𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳)) to conduct the activities of a research project entitled "Sustainable Capacity Building to Reduce Irreversible Pollution by Plastics (SCIP Plastics Project)", funded by the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), Germany, in collaboration with the Department of Civil Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET).

The details of the posts are provided in the appointment notification, along with the minimum prescribed qualifications (MPQ).

Workshop on Plastic Waste Mismanagement of Local Ships Held at Chattogram

Chattogram, May 7, 2025 — A workshop event titled “স্থানীয় জাহাজের বর্তমান প্লাস্টিক বর্জ্য অব্যবস্থাপনার ফলাফল ও প্রভাব এবং টেকসই বর্জ্য ব্যবস্থাপনার অনুশীলনে জাহাজকর্মীদের দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি”was held on May 7, 2025 at the Hotel Shaikat.

Organized under the SCIP Plastics Project, the program aimed to disseminate recent findings regarding the rate of plastic waste generation by local vessels and the consequent environmental consequences. The session also shed light on the perceptions and practices of ship crew members related to sustainable waste management, with the goal of formulating an effective guideline for managing waste on local ships. Md. Ajijur Rahman, Junior Environmental Engineer of the SCIP Plastics project, was the program's rapporteur.

Environmental Engineer Niloy Das from the SCIP Plastics Project presented key data and insights, elaborating on current waste management practices within port areas and the role and responsibility of crew members in reducing plastic pollution.

Prominent scientific experts, Prof. Sudip Kumar Pal and Prof. Asiful Hoque, addressed the systemic plastic waste mismanagement by local vessels docked at various ports. Both experts emphasized the urgent need for structured interventions and crew-level awareness to mitigate the growing environmental risks.

Crew members from local vessels and officials from the Sadarghat License Office for lighter vessels were the key participants, underscoring the importance of administrative collaboration in implementing effective waste management strategies across the port's operations.

The program marked a significant step forward in initiating evidence-based solutions to one of the critical challenges facing Bangladesh's maritime waste management landscape.

SCIP Plastics Project, CUET Hosts Knowledge Dissemination Campaign on Plastic Pollution at Cox’s Bazar

COX’S BAZAR, May 4, 2025 — A knowledge dissemination campaign titled “Addressing Plastic Pollution for a Sustainable Marine Future: Source-to-Solution (S2S)” was held at the Sayeman Beach Resort in Cox’s Bazar on Saturday. The event was organized by the SCIP Plastics Project under the Department of Civil Engineering at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), with support from Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.

The campaign brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, environmental experts, and representatives from national and international organizations. Distinguished guests included Md. Ibney Mayaz Pramanik, Executive Engineer of the Department of Public Health Engineering (Cox’s Bazar), Prorakram Chakma, Executive Engineer of Cox's Bazar Municipality, Jamir Uddin, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, and town planners Tayfur Rahman and Md. Abdul Kader from the Cox’s Bazar Development Authority.

Participants also represented prominent organizations such as UNHCR, YPSA, NGO Forum, World Vision, and BRAC.

The event commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran, and a brief introduction and video presentation about the SCIP Plastics Project. Prof. Dr. Mst. Farzana Rahman Zuthi, Scientific Director of the project at CUET, delivered the welcome address.

Key highlights of the event included technical talks on the investigation of marine plastic pollution in Bangladeshi ports and the potential of jute as a sustainable alternative to plastic. The sessions were followed by round-table discussions and an interactive Q&A, fostering dialogue on collaborative approaches to tackling plastic pollution.

The campaign aimed to raise awareness of the detrimental effects of plastic waste on the marine ecosystem and promote innovative, sustainable solutions. Discussions emphasized the importance of source reduction, improved waste management systems, and the development of biodegradable alternatives such as jute.

Honorable Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET), Professor Dr. Mahmud Abdul Matin Bhuiyan, emphasized the importance of cleanliness for a healthy environment. He stated, “A clean environment plays a vital role in creating a positive image for any institution. Keeping our campus clean is our responsibility. We must instill the value of cleanliness in the younger generation to ensure a safe and sustainable future.”

On February 25, 2025, at the Technical Talk cm Clean Day event, organized by the SCIP Plastics Project in the seminar room of the Civil Engineering Department, he shared these insights as the chief guest.

The event was graced by special guest Professor Dr. Sudip Kumar Pal, Dean of the Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering at CUET. Also present were Professor Dr. Mst. Farzana Rahman Zuthi, Scientific Director of SCIP Plastics Project, Professor Dr. Asiful Haque, Scientific Expert, Professor Dr. Ashutosh Saha, Advisor to CUET’s Security Section, Professor Dr. Kazi Delwar Hossain, Director of Planning & Development, Professor Dr. Md. Abdur Rahman Bhuiyan, Director of the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), as well as Mr. Gregor Biastoch and Ms. Luise Wurfel, Scientific Coordinators of the SCIP Plastics Project. The event was moderated by Ms. Trisha Das, Environmental Planner of the project.

A major highlight of the event was the handover of the NIR (Near-Infrared) Spectroscopy solution to the SCIP Plastics Project, CUET from Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Germany. NIR Spectroscopy is an advanced analytical technique that helps in identifying and characterizing different materials, including plastic waste. This technology will enhance the project’s research capabilities by providing precise data on plastic composition, aiding in effective waste management and sustainability efforts.

During the technical session, Mr. Gregor Biastoch presented key project outcomes and scientific insights on the biodegradability of jute. Following this, Professor Dr. Mst. Farzana Rahman Zuthi discussed various essential aspects of the project. The session saw enthusiastic participation from final-year students of the Civil Engineering Department.

Later, the campus cleaning drive commenced with the distribution of safety gear to all participants. With active engagement from everyone, the CUET campus was cleaned as part of this initiative.

♻️🌍 The SCIP Plastics Project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety.

Let's work together for a clean and sustainable future! 🌱💚

🌿 Join the Jute Bag Campaign Kick-Off at CUET! 🎉♻️

Say NO to single-use plastic! 🚫🛍️ It’s time to take action for a greener future! 🌎

The SCIP Plastics Project is launching an exciting Jute Bag Campaign at CUET, and we want YOU to be part of this incredible movement! Join us for a fun-filled day packed with games, activities, and sustainable initiatives!

📅 Date: 10th February
📍 Venue: Basketball Ground, CUET
⏰ Time: 10:40 AM - 5:00 PM

🎯 What’s waiting for you?
✅ Fun Games & Engaging Activities!
✅ Win a FREE Jute Bag & Register for the Campaign!
✅ Take a step towards a plastic-free CUET!

Let’s make a difference—one bag at a time!
Tag your friends, spread the word, and be there to turn our commitment into action!

The SCIP Plastics project hosted a workshop titled "Inception Workshop: Plastic Waste Quantification and Jute Substitution Initiatives" on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 12:40 PM. The workshop's chief guest was CUET Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mahmud Abdul Matin Bhuiyan. Special guests included Prof. Dr. Sudip Kumar Pal, Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Environment Engineering, and Prof. Dr. Aysha Akter, Head of the Civil Engineering Department. The workshop was chaired by Prof. Dr. Mst. Farzana Rahman Zuthi, Scientific Director of the SCIP Plastics Project, and moderated by Junior Environmental Engineer Md. Ajijur Rahman.
During the workshop, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized the detrimental effects of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems and soil erosion. He highlighted the findings of 97% of scientists who believe reducing human-induced pollution is achievable. He also urged everyone to adopt the government’s recommendations to replace plastics with biodegradable products daily and lead by example in this critical environmental effort.
The SCIP Plastics Project has initiated efforts to measure plastic waste generation rates on the CUET campus and in student residential halls while exploring the use of jute as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics. To support this initiative, six undergraduate students from the 21 batch of the Department of Civil Engineering have been appointed as interns. The workshop aimed to formally welcome these interns and familiarize them with the project's objectives and tasks. This initiative marks another significant step in CUET's journey toward environmental sustainability and creating a pollution-free future.

The hybrid day-long Board of Directors (BoD) meeting for the biannual report was successfully concluded on November 16, 2024. 📊

SCIP members are grateful for the valuable insights and productive discussions as we continue working towards progress and excellence.

Scientific Directors, Scientific Experts and researchers from the following institutions attended the meeting in various sessions of the meeting:
Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET)
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (BUW)
Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET)
Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE)
Khulna City Corporation (KCC)