Blockchains for circular plastic value chains

The global plastic waste problem has taken a critical turn over the last decade. It is now estimated that, by 2050, the world would have amassed about 12 billion metric tonnes of plastic wastes. That is more than the weight of all the fish in the ocean, and it would result in the loss of more than $14 trillion to the global economy. While digital technologies, such as mobile apps and social media, have played increasingly important roles in terms of raising awareness and enabling collective actions on plastic waste, this chapter discusses the distinct set of possibilities provided by blockchains to drive a major shift in thinking and approach. Defined as “tamper evident and tamper resistant digital ledgers implemented in a distributed fashion and usually without a central authority”, blockchains can drive a major shift by empowering otherwise invisible informal waste reclaimers in the circular plastic ecosystem and offering users the opportunities to capture value from end-of-life plastic products. It can also offer a more transparent and accountable system whereby information from the “molecular barcode” of plastics can be publicly tagged and tracked, but not altered, through the product life cycle. This will enable public accountability and monitoring of the activities, contributions and commitment of big corporations to the circular economy. This chapter also discusses the case of BanQu, a blockchain solution launched in partnership with Coca-Cola Africa to improve local recycling and drive a circular plastic economy in South Africa

Displaced, excluded, and making do: a study of refugee entrepreneurship in Kenya

Purpose The aim of this paper is to use the special context of the Kenyan encampment policy to interrogate the role of social capital as a driver of resourcing for entrepreneurial action in the resource-constrained environment of refugee entrepreneurship in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach This paper takes conceptual and case study approaches to investigate how refugees deploy social capital to aggregate and recombine resources for entrepreneurial action and livelihood outcomes. It draws on 21 selected secondary sources and semi-structured interviews of 24 respondents from Kakuma camp and Kalobeyei settlement, as well as Nairobi city in Kenya. Findings This study proposes a new conceptual framework that illuminates the interaction between social capital, resource aggregation and resource recombination for entrepreneurial action and livelihood recovery. This framework was elucidated within the specific Kenyan context, where social capital was found to play a key role in enabling access to other resources such as financial and human capital to refugee entrepreneurs that would otherwise be inaccessible within the resource-constrained context. It also underlines the capacity of refugees to mobilise these resources in the creation of new ecosystems and institutions. Research limitations/implications While the conceptual contribution of the paper holds broad explanatory powers, the empirical aspect is limited in terms of its focus on the Kenyan contexts. Future studies can benefit from cross-country comparisons of empirical, including longitudinal, data. Social implications This paper argues for a new approach that can enable better integration of refugees through the provision of opportunities for full economic participation for refugees. This will be a win-win outcome for both refugees and host communities. Originality/value This paper makes original contribution by proposing a new conceptual framework that explains the bricoleur’s resource process through the lense of social capital in a resource-constrained and challenging institutional environment. This framework is elucidated with empirical qualitative data from Kenya. This study also signposts new operational and policy directions for humanitarian action among refugees

Conclusion. The future of digitisation for the circular plastic economy in Africa.

This chapter brings together the scholarly insights, case studies and policy and practitioner perspectives in this book to highlight the key areas of challenge, as well as opportunities, in the drive towards a circular plastic economy in Africa. We highlight the new frontiers of multi-stakeholder engagement and the imperative of policy innovations and political will for successful transition to a circular plastic economy. We also identify the strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to co-opt ordinary citizens in the circularity agenda and the prospects of a market-driven approach to circular transition

Introduction. A Digitally Enabled Circular Plastic Economy for Africa

Plastic pollution is a major challenge of our time which is expected to worsen if systemic changes are not implemented. The challenge is exacerbated in sub-Saharan Africa due to poor infrastructure and suboptimal waste management systems. This chapter introduces the key premise of this book: that the circular plastic economy (CPE), a system which employs the principles of the circular economy to the plastic value chain, is a viable solution that can be driven with digital tools and technologies for greater impact. This chapter therefore outlines the conceptual foundations of this book, followed by a description of the empirical work undertaken under the auspices of the DITCh Plastic project, funded by the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI). We then introduce the rest of this book’s chapters organised into three thematic clusters, to illuminate the challenges and opportunities for transitioning to a CPE in sub-Saharan Africa

Big-Stream. A Framework for Digitisation in Africa's Circular Plastic Economy

Plastic materials are popular and in growing demand across the world because of their multifaceted functionality and versatile applications for domestic and industrial purposes. This further translates to an upshoot in the generation of plastic wastes as a consequence of the conventional linear plastic economy. A modern, regenerative circular economy for plastic materials, optimised by a range of relevant digital technologies, is proving to be a viable solution to the extant challenge of plastic waste management in the African continent. However, infrastructural gaps as well as the underdeveloped state of stakeholder preparedness towards the operationalisation of an effective circular plastic economy in sub-Saharan Africa lend urgency to the development of a holistic framework, linking together the relevant digital technologies, circular economy strategies as well as stakeholders involved. Drawing upon a range of studies and a review of existing frameworks exploring the interdisciplinary integration of digital tools towards a circular economy and global sustainability, this study adopts a system thinking approach in the design of a framework to help address highlighted issues. It demonstrates the usefulness of digital tools in obtaining efficiency and smooth operationalisation of the circular plastic economy and further suggests a shift from current unsustainable practices alongside spirited collaboration among relevant actors

A multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral approach to a circular plastic economy in Eastern Africa

In East Africa, several policy initiatives related to single-use plastic and extended producer responsibility have led to new opportunities, but also challenges, to the prospect of a circular plastic economy. This chapter examines the many threads held by researchers, entrepreneurs and industrialists, investors and policymakers, drawing from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders. This chapter explicates the collaborative synergy of stakeholders across sectors that are playing a critical role in the transition to a circular plastic economy in East Africa. It also highlights the important contributions of digital innovations in lowering barriers and changing attitudes among consumers and producers alike

Development and validation of sources of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and outcome expectations: A social cognitive career theory perspective

The purpose of this study is to develop and validate the sub-dimensions of the learning experiences sources of self-efficacy and outcome expectations of social cognitive career theory (SCCT) in the domain of entrepreneurship. The validation process was done in three phases. The first phase was the item generation and expert reviews of the items. In the second phase (N = 335 students), we subjected the scale to exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and discovered 5-theory consistent factors. In the third phase (N = 376), we collected another independent sample to further validate the scale, using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and a whole spectrum of validity approaches. Overall, the results suggested that the scale is psychometrically sound and supported the theory consistent five-factor structure, with adequate reliability estimates. Our proposed instrument addresses the limitations of previous intention-based models by incorporating other theory that accounts for the achievement of entrepreneurial intention and behaviour outcomes. Finally, we highlight pedagogical, policy and practical implications