Monday, February 25, 2013

Jumana Rezwan's Canvass



“I am real”  To Set New Standards In The Food and Beverage Industry
BanglaDutch Developments Ltd Company has recently launched a premium juice line “I am real” 
which promises to offer similar nutritional and health benefits as are found in real fruits. Juice is of course not a new product, but by branding their juice “I am real,” the company is clearly responding to a demand for unadulterated food in Bangladesh.

Consumers are often unsure if the food they purchase in the country’s markets and grocery stores is hygienic and unadulterated, given the considerable evidence that  many perishable food items are treated with formalin(formaldehyde) to preserve freshness.
The adverse affects of high levels of formalin have been discussed on various forums. While measures have been taken, it has also given rise to a new sector which trades in “formalin free  fresh food”.

“I am real”  and “formalin free food” may be the beginning  of a megatrend in Bangladesh where people are more conscious about the quality and purity of food and its overall impact on general wellbeing and health. Low GI rice is already being sold in selective locations in Dhaka. The near future may see retailers  increasing their stocks of healthier alternatives such as organically grown foods.



BGMEA and SEDF awards eco compliant companies.
 25 garments manufacturing companies were awarded for their initiatives in implementing rigorous measures to allow for sustainable development practices within their factories. The focus was on areas such as waste management, noise pollution, chemical and hazardous materials management and more.

These awards  will hopefully symbolize the revival of the RMG industry which has suffered severe blows to its international image due to factory fires and other malpractices.
The recent spate of fires could have been prevented had safety measures for employees been taken into considerations. Moreover, installing basic facilities such as fire extinguishers, water sprinklers and smoke detectors should perhaps be high on the list of priorities, since achieving sustainable growth in the long run will be a difficult task if key assets such as human resources are neglected.

While rewarding companies is likely to encourage more of them to take initiatives to implement  sustainable business operations, perhaps it should also include more extensive  focus on improving conditions for laborers. Moreover such awards appreciating companies for their effort to create safer work environments may well complement recent initiatives to help gradually rebuild the tarnished image of the RMG sector.

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