SMEP Resources
Database for tracking international trade in non-plastic substitutes
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.
Poisoned power: Why lead-acid batteries need a cleaner and greener alternative
Invented more than 160 years ago, lead-acid batteries, which are reliable and cheap, are still the most widely used rechargeable batteries despite containing toxic lead. The UNCTAD Weekly Tradecast looks at lead-acid batteries and why they remain so popular despite the world moving towards greener energy with UN Trade and
Fashion with a peel: How crop waste is making sustainable textiles and creating jobs
For every banana or pineapple we eat, much of the plant is discarded during harvesting or processing. The UNCTAD Weekly Tradecast looks at how we can make sustainable fabrics and other materials recycled from agricultural waste with UN Trade and Development economist Henrique Pacini.
That’s rubbish: How our waste is choking the planet and how we can clean it up
From plastic packaging to fast fashion to car batteries, we have been creating mountains of waste for decades. This episode of the Weekly Tradecast talks trash with UNCTAD economist Henrique Pacini.
Beyond Plastics: A review of trade-related policy measures on non-plastic substitutes
This study analyses trade related policy measures that currently apply to a relevant set of non-plastic substitutes that can replace plastics in various functions. These include, but are not limited to, wood pulp and paper, aluminium, glass, and natural fibres such as cotton and bamboo.
An ocean of opportunities: The potential of seaweed to advance the SDGs
This study aims to enhance our comprehension of the seaweed sector as a tripartite vector for economic
growth, environmental sustainability, and women’s economic empowerment as well as identifies specific action-oriented considerations for governments,
businesses, civil society, academia, and the United Nations.
