Digital Innovations for a Circular Plastic Economy in Africa

Description

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest challenges of the twenty-first century that requires innovative and varied solutions. Focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, this book brings together interdisciplinary, multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder perspectives exploring challenges and opportunities for utilising digital innovations to manage and accelerate the transition to a circular plastic economy (CPE). This book is organised into three sections bringing together discussion of environmental conditions, operational dimensions and country case studies of digital transformation towards the circular plastic economy. It explores the environment for digitisation in the circular economy, bringing together perspectives from practitioners in academia, innovation, policy, civil society and government agencies. The book also highlights specific country case studies in relation to the development and implementation of different innovative ideas to drive the circular plastic economy across the three sub-Saharan African regions. Finally, the book interrogates the policy dimensions and practitioner perspectives towards a digitally enabled circular plastic economy. Written for a wide range of readers across academia, policy and practice, including researchers, students, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), digital entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and multilateral agencies, policymakers and public officials, this book offers unique insights into complex, multilayered issues relating to the production and management of plastic waste and highlights how digital innovations can drive the transition to the circular plastic economy in Africa. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables List of Contributors Acknowledgements 1 Introduction: A Digitally Enabled Circular Plastic Economy for Africa 1 Plastic Pollution in Africa 2 The Circular Economy as a Viable Solution 3 Digitisation in the Circular Economy 4 DITCh Plastic Project 5 Introduction to Book Chapters Acknowledgement References Part I The Environment for Digitisation in the Circular Plastic Economy 2 Enabling a Successful Transition to a Circular Plastic Economy in Africa 1 The Plastic Pollution Challenge 2 The Circular Plastic Economy 3 Barriers and Enablers of a Circular Plastic Economy in Africa 3.1 Regulatory and Institutional 3.2 Economic and Financial 3.3 Capacity and Technology 3.4 Society, Consumer, Business and Government Culture and Behaviour 4 Plastics Management, Systems Thinking and Sustainable Developmental Priorities References 3 Digital Technologies and the Regime Complex for Plastics in Nigeria 1 What Is Regime Complex Theory and Why Does It Matter? 2 “Good” and “Bad”: Assessing the Function of Regime Complexes 3 Regime Complex Theory and Digital Technology 4 Methodology 5 Nigeria Within the Regime Complex for Plastics 6 Assessing the Regime Complex for Plastics 7 Digital Technology and the Regime Complex for Plastics Note References 4 From Polymers to Microplastics: Plastic Value Chains in Africa 1 Introduction 2 Plastic Value Chains in Africa 2.1 Production 2.2 Imports 2.3 Use 2.4 End of Life 3 Digital Technologies for Improving Circularity Across the Plastics Value Chain 4 Conclusion Acknowledgement References 5 Digital Innovation Ecosystem for the Circular Plastic Economy 1 Introduction 2 Innovation System in Africa 3 Innovation in Africa’s CPE 3.1 Actors and Networks 3.2 Institutions 3.3 Knowledge and Technological Domains 4 Conclusion Acknowledgement References Part II Digitisation in Action 6 Utilising Plastic Waste to Create 3D-Printed Products in Sub-Saharan Africa 1 Introduction 2 3D Printing as a Promising Intervention 3 Case Studies of Products 3.1 Education 3.2 Local Industries 3.3 Medicine 3.4 Construction 4 Conclusion Acknowledgement References 7 Blockchains for Circular Plastic Value Chains 1 Introduction 2 Blockchains, Circular Economy and Plastic Value Chains 2.1 Blockchains and the Circular Economy 2.2 Applications of Blockchains in the Plastic Value Chain 2.2.1 The Design Phase 2.2.2 The Production Phase 2.2.3 The Use Phase 2.2.4 End-Of-Life Phase 3 Case Study of BanQu, South Africa 3.1 Background 3.2 BanQu Application for Plastic Waste Management in Africa 4 Discussion 5 Conclusion References 8 Transitioning to a Circular Plastic Economy in West Africa Through Digital Innovation: Challenges and the Way Forward 1 Introduction 2 Plastic Pollution in West Africa 2.1 Plastic and Plastic Waste in West Africa 2.2 Plastic Waste Management in West Africa 2.3 Digital Innovation for Plastic Waste Management in West Africa 3 Methodology 3.1 Data Collection 3.1.1 Focus Groups 3.1.2 Interviews 3.1.3 Online Surveys 3.2 Why This Approach 4 Results and Discussion 4.1 Results 4.1.1 Focus Group 1 – WMOs 4.1.2 Focus Group 2 – Academia 4.1.3 Focus Group 3 – Civil Societies 4.1.4 Online Survey 4.2 Discussion 4.2.1 Challenge I – Awareness 4.2.2 Challenge II – Data 4.2.3 Challenge III – Logistics 4.2.4 Challenge IV – Lack of Competence in New Digital Technologies 4.3 Case Studies 4.3.1 GIVO 4.3.2 Coliba 5 Conclusion Acknowledgement References 9 A Multi-Stakeholder, Multi-Sectoral Approach to a Circular Plastic Economy in Eastern Africa 1 Introduction 2 Focal Country Contexts 2.1 Kenya 2.2 Rwanda 2.3 Uganda 3 Methodology 4 Findings and Discussion 4.1 Policy Interventions and Outcomes 4.2 Challenges and Opportunities for Waste Collection 4.3 Private and Informal Sector Contributions 5 Conclusion Acknowledgement References 10 The Application of Digital Technology in Circular Plastic Economy in Southern Africa: Case Studies... 1 Introduction 2 Methods 3 Results and Discussion 4 Case Studies 4.1 Epupa Cleaning Services Cc 4.2 The Recycling Lab Cc 4.3 Recyclebot 5 Discussions 5.1 Contribution of Digital Waste Management to the Sustainable Development Agenda 5.2 Constraints and Challenges to Adopting More Circular Approaches Among Start-Ups 6 Conclusion and Recommendation Acknowledgement References Part III A Digitally Enabled Circular Plastic Economy 11 BIG-STREAM: A Framework for Digitisation in Africa’s Circular Plastic Economy 1 Introduction 2 A Digitally Enabled CPE 3 A Framework for a Digitally Enabled CPE 3.1 Digital Functions 3.1.1 BDA and AI 3.1.2 IoT and Mobile Applications 3.1.3 GIS and Remote Sensing 3.2 Strategies 3.2.1 Sustainable Transport and Distribution 3.2.2 Responsible Production and Consumption 3.2.3 Energy Recovery 3.2.4 Advice Stakeholders: Refrain, Reuse, Separate and Garner 3.2.5 Monitoring and Assessing Waste Management Systems 4 Conclusion Acknowledgement References 12 A Plastic Data Exchange Platform for Africa’s Circular Plastic Economy Transition 1 Introduction 2 The CPE in Africa 3 Elements of the PDE 3.1 Organisations and Institutions On the PDE Platform 3.1.1 Government 3.1.2 Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) 3.1.3 Producers 3.1.4 Collection Companies 3.1.5 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) 3.1.6 Academia 3.1.7 Technology Companies 3.2 Components of Data On the PDE Platform 3.3 Tools and Technologies for the PDE 4 Discussion and Recommendation 4.1 Discussion 4.2 Recommendations 5 Conclusion References 13 Enhancing Decentralised Recycling Solutions With Digital Technologies 1 Introduction 2 Plastic Recycling in Africa 2.1 Overview of Digital Technologies for Waste Recycling in Africa 3 Discussion 4 Conclusion Acknowledgement References 14 Assessing Plastic Circular Economy Policies and the Use of Digital Technology in Africa 1 Introduction 2 Concept of Circular Economy 3 Circular Economy Policies in Africa 3.1 Global Marine Policies and Africa Cross-Border Plastic Initiatives 3.2 National Policies in Africa 3.3 State of National Plastic Policies: A Case of Nigeria 3.3.1 Plastic Bags Prohibition Bill 3.3.2 Nigeria Extended Producers Responsibility Programme 4 Descriptive Statistics and Discussions 4.1 Evidence of Emerging Digital Tools in Africa Plastic Economy Ecosystem 5 Summary and Conclusion Appendix 1 References 15 Gender and Digital Innovation On Circular Plastic Economy in Africa 1 Introduction and Background 1.1 Digital Innovations and the Circular Plastic Economy 1.2 Gendered Hazards and Risks in the Circular Plastic Economy 1.2.1 Health Hazards 1.2.2 Physical Risk and Safety 1.2.3 Cultural Norms 1.2.4 Income and Earnings 1.3 Landscape of Digital Innovations On CPE in Africa 2 Method 3 Results 3.1 Women Participation in Policy Regulation and in Decision Making 3.2 Digital Innovations Among Waste Management Start-Ups 3.3 Access to Finance 3.4 Plastic Waste Chain Stereotype, Roles and Workforce 3.5 The Importance of Awareness Raising and Knowledge Sharing 4 Discussion 5 Conclusion 6 Recommendations Acknowledgement References 16 Conclusion: The Future of Digitisation for the Circular Plastic Economy in Africa 1 When the Digital Meets the Circular 2 Key Takeaways Digital Innovations Are Essential for Inter-Sectoral Linkages and Stakeholder Collaborations Digital Innovations Must Be Matched With Policy Innovations and Political Will Digital Innovation Is the Engine of a Market-Driven Circular Economy in Africa 3 Final Thoughts References Index