In 2022, global fisheries and aquaculture hit a record 223.2 million tonnes – enough to supply every person on Earth with 28 kg of fish and seafood for a year (SOFIA, 2024). But behind that volume are millions of livelihoods, many in developing countries that still lack the tools to access, navigate, or shape global […]
On the Road to Nice: Better markets make better catches Read More »
As the world edges closer to the 2025 global deadline to reduce marine pollution under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.1, momentum is building across governments, businesses, and international organisations to accelerate action for healthier oceans. The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice (9–13 June 2025) is a major checkpoint towards meeting our global commitment to reduce
On 10 April 2025 in Accra, Republic of Ghana, the SMEP-funded Fresh Produce Impact Hub (FreshPPact) successfully launched its latest report: Moving Ghana Beyond Plastics: A Policy Blueprint for a Thriving Plastic Substitutes and Alternatives Industry. The Policy Blueprint report is aimed at facilitating the transition to plastic alternatives and reducing plastic packaging. This report
The SMEP Programme is proud to share a milestone in our mission to support innovation in manufacturing value chains and circularity. One of our grantee projects, Uganda based BANATEX – EA took to centre stage at the 2025 Massmart Growth Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa on 2nd April 2025. The event brought together over 300
The SMEP Programme may seem like a cohort of loosely linked projects tackling pollution, but altogether, these projects are contributing evidence to the plastics policy landscape.
SMEP’s role in the Plastics Policy Landscape Read More »
Good management of organic residues, a renewable resource, is often overlooked but constitutes a powerful tool to improve livelihoods and tackle plastic pollution. In Kenya, SMEP-supported organic waste projects are showcasing how circular economy principles can benefit communities. By transforming organic residues into valuable products, these initiatives create jobs, empower marginalised groups, and promote sustainable practices.
Organic residues: A sustainable solution to plastic pollution and development Read More »
Representatives of the SMEP PMA and UNCTAD were fortunate to travel to vibrant Pakistan in December 2024. The main objective of the trip was to visit all Pakistan SMEP projects and to engage with relevant stakeholders in the country.
The PMA visited SMEP-funded projects in Pakistan Read More »
A global shift towards non-plastic materials holds significant potential to deliver economic opportunities for the developing world. A new database tracking international trade in non-plastic substitutes is now available on UN Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) online Data Hub.
New data tracks global trade in non-plastic substitutes Read More »
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