CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, India and the Leather and Leather Products Industry Research and Development Center (LLPIRDC), Ethiopia, successfully organised the closing workshop of the SMEP Green Tannery Initiative on “Achieving Sustainable Development in Leather Manufacturing in Africa” on June 25, 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The workshop highlighted the project’s achievements in promoting cleaner and more sustainable leather manufacturing across Africa.
The workshop was attended by H.E. Anil Kumar Rai, Ambassador of India to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, as the Guest of Honour, and H.E. Tarekegn Bululta, State Minister, Ministry of Industry, Ethiopia, as the Chief Guest.
The programme showcased the key outcomes of the SMEP project, including enzymatic unhairing as a cleaner alternative to the conventional sulphide-lime unhairing process.
It also highlighted the conversion of tannery solid waste, including hair and fleshings, into value added fertilizers and organic input applications.
These technologies received positive feedback from tannery stakeholders. ELICO Tannery shared its experience with the enzymatic unhairing process and expressed interest in moving towards its commercial adoption.
The workshop brought together representatives from government, industry, development partners, regional organisations, research institutions and academia to discuss cleaner leather manufacturing technologies, policy support, sustainability priorities and pathways for wider regional adoption.
More than 75 participants attended the workshop in person, while over 40 participants joined virtually, reflecting strong regional interest in advancing sustainable, circular and cleaner leather manufacturing across Africa.
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