SOLUTION TO CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRACTICES’ ADOPTION CHALLENGES IN THE NIGERIAN MANUFACTURING SECTOR: A FOCUS ON OTA REGION

Abstract

Our economic activities thrive on resource exploitation, material processing, manufacturing, utilization and disposal. The linearity of our economic activities has caused enormous environmental problems such as resource depletion, loss of biodiversity, soil contamination, air and water pollution, and climate change. However, circular economy has been found to be a pragmatic approach to addressing these problems and to incorporating sustainability into our economic activities. Scholars, professionals and policy makers in many countries and corporate organizations, especially in developed countries, have been taking steps to introduce circularity into various sectors of our economy. Unfortunately, many developing countries are yet to buy into it. Using a survey approach, this study attempted to identify challenges to circular economy practices’ adoption in Nigeria and tried to proffer solutions to the challenges. Results of the study showed non-awareness of circular economy practices, unsupportive government policy, institutional issues, and infrastructure deficit as the main challenges. Public awareness education, circularity education incorporation into schools/college curricula, circular economy research funding, circular infrastructure/market structure development, and government support are the proposed solutions to the aforementioned challenges. The government support could be in the form of tax rebates, subsidies, supportive policies as well as circularity innovation demonstration centers’ establishment. Taking those steps would foster public awareness and widespread adoption of circular economy practices. Consequently, this would eliminate the aforementioned environmental problems and enhance our progression towards achieving sustainable development goals.