EXPERTS FROM around the world are joining forces to tackle plastic pollution in Africa using the latest digital innovations, thanks to a new research project led by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU). 

The project called ‘Digital Innovations for Transitioning to a Circular Plastic Economy (DITCh Plastic)‘, has been launched to help design a framework that will enable Africa to transition to a circular plastic economy.  

Innovation

By bringing together the continent’s leading innovation and technology hubs and universities, as well as third sector organisations and top UK universities, researchers hope to develop what is known as a sustainable ‘closed loop’ system in Africa whereby plastic materials flow constantly through the economy, rather than being used once and discarded. 

According to United Nations figures from 2010 4.4 million tonnes of plastic are found in oceans and seas surrounding the continent every year.

Mohamed Atani, regional information officer for the UN environmental agency UNEP  said recently that “plastic, and waste management in general, is a very big problem in Africa.” 

While several western nations still issue plastic bags in supermarkets, a number of  African countries have taken the lead and banned them entirely, such as Morocco, Rwanda and Kenya.

Dr Muyiwa Oyinlola, Associate Professor in Engineering for Sustainable Development at DMU, is the lead researcher for the project. 

He will be working alongside colleagues Dr Kutoma Wakunuma and Dr Seun Kolade. 

Pollution

He said: “In order to sustainably tackle plastic pollution in Africa, we need to do things differently and look at ways to grow a global network that can benefit the continent.” 

By combining its extensive existing networks and infrastructure, the team will work with different levels of stakeholders, including international organisations, governments and at the community level. 

The project will produce a Pan-African platform to create public engagement for knowledge exchange and capacity building in sustainably managing plastic waste and pollution. 

Solutions

The platform will bring together existing websites, digital tools, apps and innovative processes that have been designed specifically for plastic reduction, recycling and reuse in different environments. 

“We want to help African businesses to upscale,” Oyinlola said. “Most of them have developed innovative solutions for  recycling and reducing plastic but there are still gaps that need addressing. We are trying to map different technical, social and political perspectives to help them.”