On World Rivers Day this year, the prominent international fashion brand JACK & JONES has partnered with RiverRecycle to support an essential project in Bangladesh, focusing on the Kumar River in Faridpur, an emissary of the Padma River.
World Rivers Day
World Rivers Day, celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September, is a UN intentional observance. It is a global event highlighting the importance of rivers and encouraging the stewardship and conservation of all waterways. It emphasizes the need to protect our rivers from pollution and other threats and celebrates their many values, including their role in providing clean water, supporting biodiversity, and enhancing the beauty of natural landscapes.
Who is Jack & Jones?
JACK & JONES is a renowned menswear brand known for its stylish, high-quality clothing. As a brand under the BESTSELLER umbrella, JACK & JONES contributes to the company’s sustainability strategy, Fashion Forward (FWD).
JACK & JONES’s commitment to FWD is amplified through their A/BETTER WORLD vision.
Since 2023, JACK & JONES has supported seven organizations in connection with different World Environmental Days annually. This initiative is set to raise awareness of environmental issues such as marine pollution, global warming, climate injustice, and animal welfare crimes. JACK & JONES cooperates with different companies and NGOs and supports their work or efforts on a specific project.
Project Overview: Addressing Monsoon Challenges in Bangladesh
Bangladesh experiences intense monsoon seasons, with approximately 80% of the country’s annual rainfall occurring from June to October. During this period, nearly one-third of the country can be underwater, leading to severe flooding, damage to infrastructure, and widespread health issues due to contaminated water supplies and increased mosquito-borne diseases. The monsoon floods also exacerbate the already challenging living conditions in regions like Faridpur, causing significant economic and social disruptions.
JACK & JONES contribution to the Kumar River Project
This year, JACK & JONES have allocated funding to RiverRecycle’s project in Faridpur. The project focuses on cleaning the Kumar River, a tributary of the Padma River, to stop the flow of waste into the Andaman Sea. With their apport, JACK & JONES made possible the clearing of the city drains on the site before the monsoon season, impacting 52 households surrounding the site and helping prevent flooding and other related issues that often plague the area during the rainy season.
RiverRecycle project in Faridpur
RiverRecycle’s project directly benefits the community on the banks of the Kumar River by cleaning the riverbanks and improving the drainage system. Two booms on the site stop the flow of waste, allowing its collection, significantly reducing pollution, and enhancing the overall health of the river ecosystem. The waste collected is sorted, and the plastic is recycled into new products.
Since its inception, the project has been an example of international collaboration among different entities, in line with the SDG17 “Partnership for the goals.” Besides this contribution from JACK & JONES, the project was funded by DANIDA (Danish International Development Agency), which supports sustainable growth and development initiatives worldwide. Practical Action, an NGO dedicated to using technology to challenge poverty, manages outreach and fosters relationships with the local population, ensuring community involvement and support for the project.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate World Rivers Day, the partnership between JACK & JONES and RiverRecycle marks the importance of corporate responsibility in addressing global environmental challenges and improving the lives of vulnerable communities.
For more information about JACK & JONES’s sustainability initiatives, visit their websites.
If you wish to support impactful projects improving the health of our waterways, check RiverRecyle’s pages