Environmental impacts on the circular economy in the clothing industry of Bangladesh

B.Sc. Kawsar hamid Khan

Diplomová práce

Abstract:

This master’s thesis examines the impact of water pollution on the transition toward a circular economy in the Bangladesh ready-made garments (RMG) industry. The RMG industry is a key economic activity in Bangladesh yet it creates high amounts of environmental externalities such as the industrial wastewater contamination. The study targets Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), untreated effluent discharge, and Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) covering as indicators of water pollution between 2008 and 2023. The indicators of the performance of the circular economy are determined by the rate of textile recycling and resource recovery. The mixed method is used which involves the descriptive trend analysis, correlation testing, and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression modelling. The results indicate that the variables of pollution intensity have negative impacts, though not significant on the performance of the circular economy. Nevertheless, both recycling and resource recovery have a significant and statistically significant positive effect of ETP coverage. Findings show that the wastewater treatment infrastructure is used as a structural facilitator of circular transition. The econometric findings are also supported by case study evidence of Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj. The study arrives at the conclusion that sustainable industrial transformation requires environmental governance and infrastructure investment as preconditions. It is recommended to tighten the control measures of pollution, increase the capacity of treatment, and facilitate the transition of small and medium enterprises to the use of circular technologies. The paper can be used in the body of environmental economics and circular economy literature of developing countries.

Keywords

Effluent treatment plant, Wastewater management, Water Pollution, Chemical oxygen demand (COD), Circular Economy, Ready-Made Garments

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 2. 4. 2026

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Obhajoba proběhla 2. 6. 2026
• Vedoucí: doc. Ing. Vladimír Krepl, CSc.
• Oponent: Michaela Perunová, Ph.D.

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Provozně ekonomická fakulta

Magisterský studijní program:
International Trade and Business