Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution Programme

Plastics pollution

From Geneva to Nice and back: SMEP’s circular route to ocean action

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A new global coalition for seaweed has been announced at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) on 13 June 2025 marking a milestone for ocean and climate resilience, pollution mitigation and equitable and sustainable trade. Echoing the call by UN Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD’s) Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan to promote stronger governance of the ocean economy […]

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An ocean of waste and opportunity: Rethinking marine pollution at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference

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On 8 June, the UN World Oceans Day invites us to “marvel at a realm that sustains half the planet’s oxygen, cradles most biodiversity and feeds over a billion people”. Yet by 2025, as countries convene for the third time at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, the seas remain choked with

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Innovating Sustainability: The role of research and development in the Flipflopi Project

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The Flipflopi Project, based in the Lamu Archipelago, Kenya, is addressing plastic pollution and deforestation through community-led recycling, heritage preservation, and sustainable manufacturing. With SMEP support, the project established a Material Recovery and Recycling Facility (MRRF), advanced R&D into recycled plastic structural integrity, and launched a Heritage Boat Building Training Centre. A key insight for

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Flipflopi Launches Toolkit to Tackle Plastic Recycling Challenges in Remote Communities

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If you’re looking for practical insights to setting up and scaling plastic waste initiatives, look no further. The SMEP-funded Flipflopi Project has launched a step-by-step guide to help recyclers build resilient, impact-driven recycling programmes. The Toolkit is available for free at toolkit.theflipflopi.com.  “By sharing what we’ve learned, we hope coastal and remote communities are better

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On the Road to Nice: Tackling ghost gear as 2025 deadline for marine pollution reduction nears

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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

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SMEP-funded Fresh Produce Impact Hub successfully launched its Policy Blueprint: Moving Ghana Beyond Plastics

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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

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