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. Read more…
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