In October, SMART's Chemical Management & Detox team visited three small leather factories in one of the Mandalay industrial zones. The purpose of the visit was to evaluate their suitability and interest for a special program on chemical handling and hazardous waste management. The finished leather products produced by these SMEs are currently being sold as slippers, bags and jackets to local businesses in the Mandalay region.

Myanmar has three leather processing zones in Mandalay, Monywa and Sagaing. All three zones are populated by small-scale family workshops using traditional methods, most without use of modern chemicals, and also without strong awareness on general good safety and wastewater management practices. Depending on the interest level of the concerned SMEs, SMART's chemical management trainers are designing a special program to support them in upgrading their capacities. In concert with these activities, the DANIDA Responsible Business Fund has made available financial grant support for the establishment of centralized wastewater treatment plants in these zones.