Abstract
Sub-Saharan Africa’s industrial sector faces the dual challenge of accelerating economic growth while reducing environmental degradation, as traditional manufacturing practices continue to contribute to pollution, waste generation, and resource depletion. This study analyzes green manufacturing and circular economy models as strategic pathways toward sustainable industrial development in Sub-Saharan Africa, assessing how these models can balance economic progress with environmental stewardship. The central issue lies in determining whether industries in the region can effectively adopt circular principles despite persistent challenges such as limited technological capacity. Weak institutional structures and limited financial support systems set the region apart from more developed economies. Guided by the Triple Bottom Line model, which integrates economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability, this research adopts a qualitative systematic review approach. Secondary data from academic publications, industry reports, and policy documents published between 2015 and 2024 were analyzed to identify adoption trends, key barriers, and enablers of success. Findings indicate that industries applying circular economy practices achieved an average 40% reduction in raw material costs, calculated from comparative analyses of case studies in waste recycling, energy recovery, and remanufacturing initiatives. Additionally, these practices fostered new employment opportunities in green production sectors. However, progress was more pronounced in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, revealing substantial regional disparities in adoption. The study concludes that circular economy adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa requires locally adapted models rather than direct imitation of Western approaches. Governments are encouraged to create enabling policy environments, promote public-private partnerships for recycling infrastructure, and strengthen regional collaboration for cross-border resource recovery.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19359416
Writers:
Temitope Oluwafemi Ademola
Business Innovation, School of Business
Osiri University, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
+2348077301197, +2348102985374
ORCID: 0009-0005-5680-6040
Jide Gboyega Okedeji
Business Innovation, School of Business
Osiri University, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
+2347038024827
ORCID: 0009-0000-7648-6180
Jamiyu Abiodun Ibraheem
Department: Entrepreneurship Division
Federal College of Agriculture,
Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
+2348032459428
ORCID: 0009-0005-8621-5305
Sandra Afriyie Agyemang
Marketing and Corporate Strategy,
KNUST School of Business
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
(+233) 242258533
ORCID: 0009-0006-6049-4729
Simiat Oluwatoyin Usman
Business Innovation,
School of Business Osiri University,
Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
+2348089485533
ORCID number – 0009-0005-3034-1249
Rufai Fatai Laide
Business Innovation,
School of Business Osiri University,
Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
+2347030139313
ORCID number – 0009-0005-9026-0651
Olawale Johnson Oladeji
Business Innovation,
School of Business Osiri University,
Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
+2348137888012
ORCID number – 0009-0008-5378-6808
1. Green Manufacturing and Circular Economy Models
Corresponding Author’s Email: temademola@gmail.com
Date Received: 16th January, 2026
Date Accepted: 26th January,