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.