Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution Programme

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Spent batteries: a global strategy for navigating the emerging e-mobility divide

Report / By

Spent Batteries A global strategy for navigating the emerging e-mobility divide Electric vehicle (EV) batteries are becoming one of the fastest-growing and least-governed waste streams globally. While Global North (classified by UN Trade and Development, UNCTAD) markets are building formal lithium-ion recycling systems, many Global South markets still rely on cheaper but highly toxic lead-acid […]

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Decent work for emerging circular supply chains, informal workers and MSMEs

Learning brief / By

Decent work for emerging circular supply chains, informal workers and MSMEs Learning briefs by Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) The Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme aims to address the environmental and human health impacts of the manufacturing sector and plastics pollution in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. SMEP works with businesses, NGOs and universities active

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Global Secondhand Clothes Trade Monitor

Toolkit / By

Global Secondhand Clothes Trade Monitor Global trade in secondhand clothing (SHC) plays a vital role in promoting textile circularity. By extending the lifespan of garments, it helps reduce the pressure on landfills in exporting countries and provides affordable clothing options in importing countries where new garments are often financially inaccessible for a large majority of

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Resource Pack:  Improving occupational health & safety and meeting decent work standards

Training Materials / By

Improving occupational health & safety and meeting decent work standards Resource Pack The purpose of this resource pack is to help SMEP grantees strengthen their organisational practice around decent work and occupational health and safety (OHS). It complements three online workshops hosted in September and October 2025. The pack introduces the concept of decent work

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Biodegradability and compostability: Definitions and Standards Toolkit for Policymakers

Toolkit / By

Biodegradability and Compostability: Definitions and standards toolkit for policymakers This definitions and standards toolkit for policymakers is based on the SMEP Report “Reduction Management: Regional policies and standards on biodegradation and compostability in East and West Africa”. Developed by UNCTAD, the following list of recommended definitions has been based on the assessment of the most

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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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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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