Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution Programme

Manufacturing Pollution

Innovative Water Recycling Project Tackles Bangladesh’s Textile Industry Pollution

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A SMEP-funded pilot project in Bangladesh is combining wastewater treatment technology with an innovative financing model to address one of the textile industry’s most pressing environmental challenges: water pollution. A short technical webinar was hosted earlier in February 2026 by the project team to present pilot outcomes to industry stakeholders.  The Technical Breakthrough The project, led by Solidaridad Network Asia and QStone Capital BV, has deployed a modular 5m3/hr pilot plant, designed by Lenntech Water Solutions (the project’s Technical Solution, […]

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The Green Tannery Initiative: Towards positioning Ethiopia’s leather sector in the global arena

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The SMEP-funded project, the Green Tannery Initiative, has demonstrated that Ethiopia’s leather industry can convert its solid waste into high-value organic fertiliser – creating a profitable and sustainable circular economy model – by piloting enzymatic unhairing and solid waste valorisation technologies. Ethiopia is globally recognised for its superior leather quality, particularly that of highland sheep,

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Sustainability must be built from the bottom up: A showcase of Reverse Resources

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Traceability enables textile manufacturing and recycling companies to be more transparent and to visualise recycling practices for more accountability. SMEP grantee Reverse Resources, expands the circulation of post-industrial textile waste (PIW) in Bangladesh and Pakistan using the Reverse Resources platform, which integrates digital tools, standardised processes, and business models to align and connect stakeholders in

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Scaling sustainable natural fibres for a circular bioeconomy and industrial growth in East Africa

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Photo Credit: Maria Durleva. SMEP Programme Global textile systems are shifting in response to questions about the sustainability, sourcing, and environmental footprint of the fabrics we use. The textiles industry, valued at $1.6 trillion in 2023, is projected to reach $3.3 trillion in 2030, contributes to 2-8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and consumes about

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Circular bioeconomy and closed-loop circular solutions

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While the specific figures on the contribution of organic waste to the Republic of Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP) are not available, the economic potential of this waste is locally and regionally recognised and is growing. Large volumes of organic waste stem from agriculture, food and beverage industries, households, and commercial sources. In Nairobi, organics

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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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SMEP’s Textiles Wastewater Management pilot in Bangladesh shows significant potential in greenhouse gas emissions reductions and water savings

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A SMEP research brief, led by Atiq Zaman, Ruan Parrott and Henrique Pacini, examines how treating and recovering wastewater from a textile mill can yield significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions. The brief is based on a SMEP-funded pilot project led by a consortium made up of two technology providers (Panta Rei Water Solutions and

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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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