UNEP advised regulatory bodies in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and Paraguay as they launched Latin America’s first eco-labelling programme. This includes a certification for products that meet high sustainability standards throughout their entire life cycle. The initiative is expected to assist 450 million consumers in making more-informed purchasing decisions. 

In addition, UNEP supported Mauritius in rolling out a circular economy roadmap. Mauritius is one of seven African nations – along with Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda – that UNEP has supported as part of an initiative to foster sustainable consumption and production. In the last decade, the initiative has helped to divert 25,000 tonnes of waste from landfills and create about 20,000 jobs. 

Under the Global Framework on Chemicals, UNEP is collaborating with partners to identify ways to reduce pollution from a range of industries, including textiles, agriculture and construction. That work is expected to be bolstered by the creation of a science-policy panel on chemicals, waste and pollution prevention, currently under negotiation. 

Meanwhile, UNEP provided technical assistance to over 35 small textile companies in Africa as they developed plans to improve sustainability. At the global level, TikTok, which has over 1 billion users, is developing a training programme for content creators based on UNEP’s Sustainable Fashion Communication Playbook, which is designed to counter overconsumption.