Sustainability Financing and Investment in Integrated Waste Management: Implications for the Circular Economy in Ghana

Abstract

The transition to a circular economy has been a major global developmental agenda, as reflected in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030). In line with this, Ghana has adopted the practice of integrating circularity into its development objectives to promote sustainability, particularly in the waste management sector, which has gained attention for its potential in efficient resource mobilization and access to secondary raw materials. However, despite policymakers integrating sustainability into the development framework, financing and investments in circular economy activities remain underexplored. Adequate financing and investments can transform waste streams into profitable projects and useful goods, such as recycling waste into secondary raw resources for further processing, recovering valuable resources like energy and precious metals, or converting waste into fuel or electricity through biological or thermal treatment. The study examined sustainability financing and investment and implications for sustainable development in Ghana. The overarching aim of the thesis is to investigate the factors influencing circular economy financing and investment, the impact of such financing on circular economy practices, and the broader implications for the waste management sector in Ghana. The study is structured into three self-contained empirical chapters, each addressing specific objectives through distinct analyses. Chapter Three examined the determinants of circular economy financing and investment supply, emphasizing the moderating role of the financial environment. Chapter Four assessed the effect of circular economy finance and investment supply on the adoption of circular economy practices in the waste management sector. Chapter Five examined the implications of circular economy practices on the performance of firms in the integrated waste sector.