The third edition of the Africa Waste is Wealth Summit (AWWS III), held in June 2026, brought together a broad cross-section of stakeholders from across Africa – government agencies, private sector actors, UN bodies, financiers, researchers, and innovators – united by a common agenda: transforming waste from a problem into an economic and environmental opportunity.
Recycling of Tannery Fleshing Fat into Functional Crunch Leather Crunch leather is a special class of leather that exhibits a double-tone effect on the surface due to the migration of oil within the leather surface. In this study, extracted fat has been used in place of oil to get crunch leather. The fat was extracted
Development of Protein Binder from Tannery Waste for Leather Finishing The leather industry possesses a prominent place in the fashion industry. However, waste management during leather manufacture is a limiting factor to attaining sustainability by the industry. Tannery hair waste (byproduct of enzymatic dehairing), being a rich source of keratin, remains underutilised. Casein binders are
The SMEP-funded project, the Green Tannery Initiative, has demonstrated that Ethiopia’s leather industry can convert its solid waste into high-value organic fertiliser – creating a profitable and sustainable circular economy model – by piloting enzymatic unhairing and solid waste valorisation technologies. Ethiopia is globally recognised for its superior leather quality, particularly that of highland sheep,
The Green Tannery Initiative Baseline Survey Report This report serves as a critical deliverable of Work Package 1 (WP1) for the Sustainable Management of Emerging Pollution (SMEP) project. Its primary aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of the selected Ethiopian leather industry on key areas, including production and operational data,
As commodity‑reliant economies face growing demand for environmental and labour accountability, SMEs are combining traditional practices with adapted traceability solutions that fit local realities, helping them meet global trade rules, strengthen market access and protect livelihoods. At a tannery in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian and Indian project researchers are testing enzyme-based methods to replace harmful chemicals
From Traceability to Biotechnology Trade-led innovative solutions for sustainable leather Leather was one of the first materials used by humankind, alongside natural fibres. The leather industry involves some of the oldest examples of a circular economy, adding value to meat, primarily through by-products such as animal hides and skins from slaughterhouses, while solving a significant
“There once was a king who ruled a wealthy country. One day, he decided to visit every corner of his kingdom. After returning to his palace, he complained about the pain in his feet from the rocky roads. Frustrated, he ordered his men to cover all the roads in his country with soft leather. This,