Designing Business Solutions for Plastic Waste Management to Enhance Circular Transitions in Kenya

Balint Horvath, Edmund Mallinguh and Csaba Fogarassy
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Balint Horvath: Climate Change Economics Research Centre, Szent István University, Páter Károly 1, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
Edmund Mallinguh: Doctoral School of Management and Business Administration, Szent István University, Páter Károly 1, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
Csaba Fogarassy: Climate Change Economics Research Centre, Szent István University, Páter Károly 1, 2100 Godollo, Hungary

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 5, 1-20

Abstract: Least-developed countries face many challenges regarding their plastic waste management systems. In 2017, Kenya imposed a selective ban targeting manufacturers and consumers of plastic carrier bags. However, this selectivity does not avoid the continuous use of other plastic products. The present paper states that circular priorities, which have been defined to advanced economies, would not be entirely valid for the rest of the world. While high-income countries face only the impacts of their own consumption, developing nations must endure the externalities of these developed economies. Thus, the focus of the least developed part of the world must not be on reducing its relatively normal (or even low) consumption, but to manage its surplus material flow. According to the employed circular evaluation methodology (CEV—Circular Economic Value), the circularity level in Kenya’s plastic material flow stands on a rather low stage with 32.72%. This result outlines the linear deficiencies of the plastic waste management system and urges the prevention of further material leakage (such as energy use). Through the Business Model Canvas (BMC) approach this study offers a holistic business solution which can improve the system’s sustainability.

Keywords: plastic waste; business solution; circular priorities; recycling; Business Model Canvas (BMC); Circular Economic Value; Kenya (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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