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 […]
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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The Green Tannery Initiative Baseline Survey Report This report serves as a critical deliverable of Work Package 1 (WP1) for the Sustainable Management of Emerging Pollution (SMEP) project. Its primary aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of the selected Ethiopian leather industry on key areas, including production and operational data,
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From Traceability to Biotechnology Trade-led innovative solutions for sustainable leather Leather was one of the first materials used by humankind, alongside natural fibres. The leather industry involves some of the oldest examples of a circular economy, adding value to meat, primarily through by-products such as animal hides and skins from slaughterhouses, while solving a significant
Mananasi Fibre’s Pineapple Leaf Waste Management Business Model An Interactive Tool This Interactive Excel Business Model compliments the Mananasi case study report. The report provides an overview of pilot activity that has been undertaken by Mananasi Fibre at the Del Monte Pineapple Estate in Thika, Kenya, commencing in July 2023. The Interactive Business Model has
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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
Countries are ramping up sustainability plans, but too often, they are designed in isolation. A new UNCTAD SMEP Programme–Chatham House brief reveals that national circular economy and bioeconomy strategies, are rarely aligned, undermining efforts to use biological resources more sustainably and reduce pollution and waste. This gap is also negative for biodiversity goals and weakens
Frame waste to value Upcycling agricultural residues for sustainable textiles The global textile industry is massive, valued at $594.1 billion in production in 2022 alone (Euromonitor, 2023). It represents one of the most important “ladder” industries for developing countries seeking to promote industrialisation and create jobs. Yet, the industry is unsustainable, creating massive unmanaged waste
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