A SMEP research brief, led by Atiq Zaman, Ruan Parrott and Henrique Pacini, examines how treating and recovering wastewater from a textile mill can yield significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions. The brief is based on a SMEP-funded pilot project led by a consortium made up of two technology providers (Panta Rei Water Solutions and […]
Countries are ramping up sustainability plans, but too often, they are designed in isolation. A new UNCTAD SMEP Programme–Chatham House brief reveals that national circular economy and bioeconomy strategies, are rarely aligned, undermining efforts to use biological resources more sustainably and reduce pollution and waste. This gap is also negative for biodiversity goals and weakens
The Flipflopi Project, based in the Lamu Archipelago, Kenya, is addressing plastic pollution and deforestation through community-led recycling, heritage preservation, and sustainable manufacturing. With SMEP support, the project established a Material Recovery and Recycling Facility (MRRF), advanced R&D into recycled plastic structural integrity, and launched a Heritage Boat Building Training Centre. A key insight for
Innovating Sustainability: The role of research and development in the Flipflopi Project Read More »
Pakistan is confronting a complex water crisis. Ranked 5th amongst the 23 most water-insecure countries globally in the 2023 Global Water Security Assessment by the United Nations, Pakistan faces low water resource availability, intricate water governance, disparate access to safe drinking water, and limited storage capacity. With about 38% of domestic wastewater effectively treated nationwide,
Uganda ranks among the top ten global producers and consumers of bananas and the highest in Africa, averaging 10 million tonnes annually. However, banana cultivation results in tonnes of post-harvest and processing waste. This Showcase Story highlights the BANATEX EA project which is valorising banana waste through natural fibre production, and assisting rural, marginalised communities in the process.