Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution Programme

UNCTAD

Plastics reduction and management: Regional policies and standards on biodegradation and compostability in East and West Africa

Report / By

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 […]

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Decarbonising the textiles sector in Bangladesh

Policy brief / By

Decarbonising the Textile Sector in Bangladesh Insight’s from a Textiles Wastewater Management project at Fakir Knitwears The SMEP Textiles Wastewater Management project, co-led by Primark and Panta Rei Water Solutions in collaboration with the Fakir Group, Grundfos, WaterAid and H&M at the Fakir Knitwear Plant, in Dhaka, demonstrates how integrating advanced wastewater treatment and reuse

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A review of parameters and requirements for an effective consumer label on plastics and plastics alternatives

Report / By

A review of parameters and requirements for an effective consumer label on plastics and plastics alternatives Labelling has played a crucial role in guiding consumer choices, dating back to ancient Egyptian and Greek civilisations, where symbols denoted the origin and authenticity of goods. Plastic labelling began in 1988 with the Resin Identification Codes (RIC), introduced

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UNCTAD’s Global Trade Update: Mobilising trade to curb plastics pollution

Policy brief / By

UNCTAD’s Global Trade Update Mobilising trade to curb plastic pollution Plastics have fuelled global growth across various industries, but at an increasing environmental, economic, and social cost. Today, plastic pollution represents a systemic and transboundary crisis, disproportionately affecting developing countries that have limited capacity for waste management. Drawing on several outputs from the SMEP Programme,

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Beyond compliance: Trade as a channel for the adoption of industrial wastewater treatment in the Global South

Policy brief / By

Beyond Compliance Trade as a channel for the adoption of industrial wastewater treatment in the Global South Water emerges as a pivotal element within the context of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity. As a fundamental resource for all life forms, water plays a multifaceted role in our ecosystems, as a

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Clarifying the taxonomy of plastics and bioplastics: Toward a ‘Zero-Trace Plastic’ material framework

Journal publication / By

Clarifying the taxonomy of plastics and bioplastics: Toward a ‘Zero-Trace’ Plastic’ (ZTP) Material Framework In this communication brief, the authors outline an important challenge, particularly distinguishing between the plastic substitutes (nature-based non-plastic materials) and plastic alternatives (better plastics in terms of biodegradability and compostability, but still plastic traces are available) to avoid existing ambiguity. Thus,

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Challenges and opportunities for single-use plastic substitutes: Insights from Kenya

Factsheet / By

Challenges and opportunities for single-use plastic substitutes Insights from Kenya Plastic waste management is a growing challenge in Kenya – Plastic constitutes an estimated 10-12% of solid waste, roughly 966,000 tonnes per year. Plastic packaging and the food and beverage industry are the largest culprits of this waste. While Kenya has instituted several regulations concerning

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Challenges and opportunities for single-use plastic substitutes: Insights from Bangladesh

Factsheet / By

Challenges and opportunities for single-use plastic substitutes Insights from Bangladesh Bangladesh is a hotspot for plastic waste entering the ocean and was among the top 20 countries in 2016 with the highest volumes of mismanaged plastic waste generated by coastal populations – approximately 360,000 tonnes. Of the 87,000 tonnes of single-use plastic (SUP) waste produced

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