Digital innovations for transitioning to circular plastic value chains in Africa

IF 1.2 Q4 MANAGEMENT

Africa Journal of Management Pub Date : 2021-12-26 DOI:10.1080/23322373.2021.1999750

M. Oyinlola, P. Schröder, T. Whitehead, O. Kolade, K. Wakunuma, S. Sharifi, B. Rawn, Victor Odumuyiwa, Selma Lendelvo, Geoff Brighty, Bosun Tijani, T. Jaiyeola, Lukonga Lindunda, Radhia Mtonga, S. Abolfathi

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引用次数: 13

Abstract

ABSTRACT The paper analyzes the current state of plastic value chains in Africa and the potential of digital innovations adopted by African entrepreneurs to contributing to a circular plastic economy. We provide an overview of plastic waste trade to African countries and an assessment of existing digital solutions that can support the transition to a circular plastic economy. The findings show that various digital innovations are being applied by entrepreneurs including web-based solutions, mobile apps and 3D printing. The case studies also show that multinational companies, especially consumer facing brands, are major players in the national plastic value chains in African countries, acting as seed funders for start-ups as well as buyers of recycled plastics. Current initiatives that are underway are positive signs that changes are in progress to address the environmental and social impacts of plastics value chains in Africa. However, to achieve a transition to sustainable circular value chains, changes at policy level will be required to enable scaling-up of local start-up businesses, address regulatory barriers to digital solutions, create markets for recycled plastic materials and implement extended producer responsibility regulations.

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非洲向圆形塑料价值链过渡的数字创新

摘要本文分析了非洲塑料价值链的现状，以及非洲企业家采用数字创新为循环塑料经济做出贡献的潜力。我们向非洲国家提供了塑料垃圾贸易的概述，并评估了可以支持向循环塑料经济过渡的现有数字解决方案。研究结果表明，企业家正在应用各种数字创新，包括基于网络的解决方案、移动应用程序和3D打印。案例研究还表明，跨国公司，尤其是面向消费者的品牌，是非洲国家塑料价值链中的主要参与者，是初创企业的种子资助者和回收塑料的买家。目前正在进行的举措是积极的迹象，表明正在进行变革，以解决非洲塑料价值链对环境和社会的影响。然而，为了实现向可持续循环价值链的过渡，需要在政策层面进行变革，以扩大当地初创企业的规模，解决数字解决方案的监管障碍，为回收塑料材料创造市场，并实施生产者责任延伸条例。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Africa Journal of Management Business, Management and Accounting-Business and International Management

CiteScore

2.80

自引率

15.40%

发文量

期刊介绍： The beginning of the Twenty First Century has witnessed Africa’s rise and progress as one of the fastest growing and most promising regions of the world. At the same time, serious challenges remain. To sustain and speed up momentum, avoid reversal, and deal effectively with emerging challenges and opportunities, Africa needs better management scholarship, education and practice. The purpose of the Africa Journal of Management (AJOM) is to advance management theory, research, education, practice and service in Africa by promoting the production and dissemination of high quality and relevant manuscripts. AJOM is committed to publishing original, rigorous, scholarly empirical and theoretical research papers, which demonstrate clear understanding of the management literature and draw on Africa’s local indigenous knowledge, wisdom and current realities. As the first scholarly journal of the Africa Academy of Management (AFAM), AJOM gives voice to all those who are committed to advancing management scholarship, education and practice in or about Africa, for the benefit of all of Africa. AJOM welcomes manuscripts that develop, test, replicate or validate management theories, tools and methods with Africa as the starting point. The journal is open to a wide range of quality, evidence-based methodological approaches and methods that “link” “Western” management theories with Africa’s indigenous knowledge systems, methods and practice. We are particularly interested in manuscripts which address Africa’s most important development needs, challenges and opportunities as well as the big management questions of the day. We are interested in research papers which address issues of ethical conduct in different African settings.