Institutional development · Research, innovation and assessment · Bangladesh
University of Michigan: cleaner Bangladesh brick kilns curb pollution, but workers miss out
University of Michigan research reports that simple operating changes at traditional brick kilns in Bangladesh lowered pollution and fuel use and improved bricks, but the benefits did not reach kiln workers.
Why it matters: Brick kiln workers in Bangladesh are the group the University of Michigan research found had not benefited from the cleaner operating changes.
The University of Michigan said its research found that fairly simple changes to how traditional brick kilns in Bangladesh are run can lower pollution and save fuel.
According to the university, the same changes can also raise the quality of the bricks the kilns produce.
The university reported that the gains from the cleaner kilns did not reach the kiln workers.
Editor’s view
Scott James, Research and Innovation Editor
For kiln operators and workers in Bangladesh, the reported results mean that if the operating changes are adopted, pollution and fuel use could fall while, on the university's findings, the workforce would not share in the benefits.
