Star - HSBC honour leaders in the fight against climate change

From left, CEO & Managing Director of Renata Ltd Syed S Kaiser Kabir, Founder and Coordinator of CRP Valerie A Taylor, DBL Managing Director MA Jabbar, Environment Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank Shitangshu Kumar Sur Chowdhury, HSBC Bangladesh CEO Francois de Maricourt, Deputy CEO HSBC Bangladesh Mahbub Ur Rahman, General Manager of Ispahani Agro Ltd Fawzia Yasmeen, ACC Director General (admin) Muhammad Munir Chowdhury and Editor of Tarupallab Mokaram Hossain on stage at the 5th HSBC-The Daily Star Climate Awards ceremony at the Radisson Blu in the capital yesterday. Photo: Amran Hossain

Three companies, a rehabilitation centre for the paralysed, and two individuals were honoured as climate champions jointly by HSBC Bangladesh and The Daily Star yesterday for their efforts to protect nature.

The winners were picked for their endeavours to preserve the environment and mitigate the risks of climate change through green business activities, community-based initiatives or valuable knowledge sharing practices.

Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Shitangshu Kumar Sur Chowdhury and HSBC Bangladesh Chief Executive Officer Francois de Maricourt handed the trophies of the “5th HSBC-The Daily Star Climate Awards” at the Radisson Blu in the capital yesterday. Waste Concern is the knowledge partner for the awards.

Ispahani Agro Ltd, a sister concern of MM Ispahani Ltd, was awarded in the Climate Champion in Green Business Category for its pioneering work in protecting the environment, farmers and crops from pesticide poisoning. The company introduced the country's first non-hazardous biopesticide.

Ispahani Agro's business motto is “Safe food for better life”. In 2007, the company started its venture with quality seeds to ensure farmers get adequate return on their investments. Later, the company added the bio-technology unit to maintain the balance of nature.

Its products have received positive response. Some 13.5 lakh farmers have so far used the company's biopesticides.

Hamza Textiles Ltd, a concern of DBL Group, won the award in the Green Operations (100 percent Bangladeshi owned companies) category.

A green garment manufacturer, the company has adopted extensive eco-friendly production methods, which has drastically reduced energy usage and carbon emissions. It also uses organic cotton in its production. Its energy-efficient technologies consume 25 percent less power. The garment waste is recycled to make yarn. It has cut down water use for dyeing by 40 percent. The light system in its factory saves 70 percent electricity.

The Climate Champion in Green Operations with full or partial foreign ownership went to Renata Ltd, a leading pharmaceutical company in Bangladesh.

The medicine maker has instilled a commitment to preserving the environment into its organisational culture by releasing minimal to zero harmful waste in the environment. Located at the heart of the capital, the company's corporate headquarters makes most of the natural light. It has a park on its premises filled with trees where one can easily come across some wild animals. It has outdoor meeting spaces.