Culture of environmental responsibility represents HATIL

When it comes to sustainable furniture practices in Bangladesh, HATIL stands out as a leading example. 

Under the visionary leadership of its Chairman and Managing Director Selim H Rahman, HATIL has made significant strides in promoting eco-friendly wood sourcing and responsible forest management. Sustainable wood, known for its minimal environmental impact and support for biodiversity, forms the cornerstone of HATIL's commitment to preserving our planet's resources.

As HATIL continues to excel in the global furniture export market, with a strong presence across the US, Canada, Australia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, Rahman is driving the company's mission to balance business success with environmental sustainability. 

In an interview with The Business Standard, Rahman discusses how HATIL champions sustainability in Bangladesh's furniture industry by prioritising eco-friendly practices, certified materials, and durable designs, despite the higher costs associated with these commitments.

Can you share HATIL's philosophy and commitment to sustainability? 

With only 15% of its land covered by forests, Bangladesh is heavily affected by pollution and is facing rapid deforestation. 

So, implementing effective waste management practices and generating renewable energy in its manufacturing process represents HATIL's commitment to sustainability. Our dedication is to embed a culture of environmental responsibility, especially crucial in the face of escalating environmental challenges and the pressing threat of climate change. 

Do you use any certified materials, such as FSC-certified wood, or recycled/reclaimed materials? If so, how do you source them? 

About 15 years ago, we decided to source wood from FSC-certified forests abroad, which reduces the risks for Bangladesh's forests and biodiversity. 

Also, we source our lacquer from Italy, which prioritises our workers' health. For all our hardware, international sustainability standards are maintained. We also try to use wood alternatives to reduce sourcing wood from forests. 

How do sustainability considerations influence the design of your furniture? 

If you look at HATIL's furniture designs, you will see that the designs are minimalistic. We believe in simple, yet elegant designs. In our market, complex designs are the norm, which requires more wood and raw materials. 

When we go for streamlined designs, we can save on the excessive use of raw material, thus adhering to the sustainability standards. We do not use any unnecessary materials, as we feel this is a waste of our precious natural resources. 

What steps do you take to ensure that your furniture is durable and has a long lifespan? 

Due to the emergence of new trends, manufacturers these days cut corners to produce cheaper, less durable products. Consumers sometimes also think that buying cheaper furniture more frequently is a good idea. 

But here in HATIL, we believe that our furniture should last at least 15 years. That is because we think that after 10-15 years, consumers tend to replace old furniture. So, here, our products are more durable, as they carry a legacy. 

What eco-friendly production techniques or technologies do you use in your factories? 

We have central extraction systems to collect all the wood dust. We recycle the hard dust to make boards, and the fine dust is used to make wood briquettes. Lacquering is fully automated in our factories to prevent any waste. 

We also use UV lines to coat lacquer more precisely upon flat surfaces. It saves raw materials and minimises the environmental hazards from chemicals. 

How do you handle the potential higher costs associated with sustainable materials and processes? 

We try to keep our prices affordable. However, you must understand that a company that follows all the compliances, pays all the due taxes, and provides benefits to the workers properly will have to charge more than a company that does not do these things. 

Our workers have provident funds, retirement benefits, and gratuity benefits. We have started to share profits with our workers starting this year. 

Also, since we have all the certifications for our sustainable business practices, it costs us. Automation and waste management also require spending. Therefore, our prices are a bit higher. So, customers usually complain about it. They say: HATIL sells good products, but their prices are higher. 

Our prices are higher because we believe in sustainability and maintain our standards — from worker benefits to sustainable production methods.