Visible value chains Traceability as a tool for sustainable trade and inclusive industrial transformation As regulatory standards increasingly shape global trade, the ability to verify how and where a product was made is becoming a prerequisite for market access. In this context, traceability – the ability to track and verify product-related information across supply chains
Community trust, inclusive design, and women’s leadership are turning recycling into a fairer green economy. In many West African cities, plastic waste is both an environmental crisis and a missed economic opportunity. Informal waste systems often mean unsafe working conditions, limited job security, and few meaningful opportunities for women and young people. GIVO (Garbage In,
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
Plastic substitution in developing countries Sectoral opportunities and challenges Plastic pollution poses significant threats to environmental health, human well-being, and economic stability. Emerging research has detected microplastics in human blood and brain tissues, raising concerns about potential long-term health effects. Despite numerous international initiatives aimed at governing plastic use, critical issues persist, primarily due to
Plastics reduction and management Regional policies and standards on biodegradation and compostability in East and West Africa The issue of plastic pollution in East and West Africa is transboundary in nature, requiring a multi-faceted approach that involves collaboration at national, regional, and international levels. To effectively tackle this crisis, comprehensive policies and coordinated bans such
Making policy work for Africa’s circular plastics economy Developed under the SMEP-funded GIVO-Warwick project, lead by the University of Warwick, the below perspectives paper discusses how policy changes can drive circular plastics economy in African countries, with examples from Nigeria, Kenya and Zambia. The African continent faces unique challenges in the context of the increasing
This study used empirical evidence from
projects in Ghana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Kenya which are part of the SMEP programme plastic portfolio, to analyse the role of their plastic recycling and upcycling systems and estimate reductions in human health impacts.
This is a summary of a longer report exploring potential alternatives to conventional plastics in three sectors central to the economies of many developing nations: food export packaging, fishing gear, and agricultural applications.