Digital Innovations for a Circular Plastic Economy in Africa

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