Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution Programme

University of Northampton

Made in Bangladesh: How SMEP Projects are Powering Local Enterprise

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“Anything that is possible in the world, is also possible here, in Bangladesh.” Aniruddha Kumar Roy, Managing Director of Leather Industries of Bangladesh Limited An enthusiastic footwear factory owner summed up the spirit and overarching message of a recent SMEP trip to Bangladesh. His confidence was palpable, reflecting not only his personal ambition and drive, but it also spoke to the wider attitude of an industrious and […]

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Raw potential: How Africa is recasting industrial power beyond plastics

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The future of Africa’s industrialisation may not lie in silicon chips or machine learning but in sustainable natural materials and regional cooperation. Across East and West Africa, governments are moving beyond extractive models and towards policies that fuse environmental resilience with industrial renewal. In Ghana, a national policy blueprint is steering the country’s economy towards

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Innovation beyond high-tech: Traceability for resilience and fair trade in the Global South

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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

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What we have learnt: Understanding traceability and due diligence in the leather supply chain

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The global leather industry—valued at over USD 400 billion—supports millions of livelihoods, especially in South Asia and Africa. Yet, despite its economic significance, the industry faces critical challenges regarding environmental sustainability, ethical sourcing, and global compliance with evolving regulations. As climate-conscious regulations tighten, particularly in Europe, the sector faces a critical juncture. Countries like Pakistan

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Rethinking Leather Production: A four-part SMEP series on Sustainable Leather Production

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“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,

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LeatherTrace Bangladesh: Traceable and circular leather production in Bangladesh

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This project seeks to address key environmental impacts from the tanneries and leather sector by developing and piloting a digitised traceability and environmental footprint system that will assist tanneries in Bangladesh to transition to more sustainable methods of production in their manufacturing processes.

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