Innovative Indigenous Packaging Practices for Sustainable Waste Management and Environmental Conservation in Coastal Ghana: A Meta-Synthesis Study Aligned With SDGs 12 and 13

Abstract

Non-biodegradable pollutants serve as a major threat to the environmental and economic stability of Ghana’s coastal communities, adversely affecting marine ecosystems and livelihoods dependent on fishing and tourism. Innovative biodegradable food packaging can create solutions for sustainable waste management and environmental protection. This approach aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14 (Life Below Water) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), which aims to restore marine health and promote sustainable resource use. This study used systematic qualitative review aspect of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) approach of 11 articles from 2015 to 2024. Underpinned by the Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, the aim of this study is to explore innovative biodegradable food packaging through IKS, assess the policies and effectiveness of waste management systems in handling packaging waste, and to identify barriers and opportunities in adopting eco-friendly packaging solutions. Three major themes emerged: environmental sustainability, waste management, and packaging innovation from the analyses. The review revealed that Ghana’s coastal communities maintain a rich tradition of using indigenous, biodegradable materials, such as banana leaves used for food packaging, which are environmentally sustainable and culturally significant. However, the coastal line is suffering from plastic pollutants, hence the need for policy enforcement combining government structures and indigenous systems in waste regulation and environmental management. This study recommends integrating indigenous knowledge into formal environmental policies, establishing innovation hubs for youth training, and incentivizing market adoption of biodegradable packaging. Enhanced public awareness and reduced barriers to entry, such as lower participation costs, are essential for scaling eco-solutions in Ghana’s coastal communities.

Keywords

Indigenous Knowledge Systems biodegradable packaging sustainability coastal communities Ghana

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Acquaye

Jnr

E. B.-A.

Ghartey

K. E.

(2022). Epic environmental pollution in little drops: The case of small-holder textile producers in Ghana. International Journal of Textile Science, 11(2), 2. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.textile.20221102.01

* Adom

(2024). Transforming solid waste into artistic marvels for environmental sustainability: Ghanaian artists’ upcycling and creative reuse of plastic waste. In Nasr

Negm

(Eds.), Solid waste management: Advances and trends to tackle the SDGs (pp. 133–147). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-60684-7_8

Anokye

F. A.

(2022). Indigenous knowledge and coastal livelihood resource sustainability at Moree and Apam communities in the central region of Ghana Thesis. University of Cape Coast. https://ir.ucc.edu.gh/jspui/handle/123456789/10706

Anokye

Mohammed

A. S.

(2024). Indigenous traditional knowledge for cleaner waste systems and sustainable waste management systems in Ghana. Cleaner Waste Systems, 9, 100165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clwas.2024.100165

Asante

D. B.

Adom

Asante

Gyamera

(2023). Combating the global environmental crisis using Indigenous ecological knowledge: The case of Kwahu traditional area, Ghana. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3637344/v1

Awusi

Kyei

(2017). Environmental effects and waste management practices of materials for local food packaging in the Birim Central Municipal. https://premierpublishers.org/jewm/100820172425

Boateng

C. A.

(2015). Tertiary institutions in Ghana curriculum coverage on climate change: Implications for climate change awareness. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(12), 99–106. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1080617.

Braun

Clarke

(2021). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. Sage Publications, Inc.

Bronfenbrenner

(1988). Interacting systems in human development. Research paradigms: Present and future. Cambridge University Press.

10.

Burgess

Körösi

Mihalev

Yovchev

Dimitrova-Dicheva

Dinkova

Vassilev

Schieber

Mehren

Knuf

Elliger

Georgiev

(2024). SafeFood4EU: An interdisciplinary approach on education for sustainable agri-food systems in Europe. European Commission. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202407.0095.v1

11.

Dada

O. A.

Angnuureng

D. B.

Almar

Dzantor

Morand

(2022). Social perceptions of coastal hazards in the Anlo Beach Community in the Western Region of Ghana. Journal of Coastal Conservation, 26(6), 63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-022-00909-9

12.

Dzikunoo

Letsyo

Adams

Asante-Donyinah

Dzah

C. S.

(2021). Ghana’s indigenous food technology: A review of the processing, safety, packaging techniques and advances in food science and technology. Food Control, 127, 108116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108116

13.

Essien

R. S.

(2021). Rethinking solid waste management in open-air markets in Accra, Ghana Dissertation. Stellenbosch University. https://scholar.sun.ac.za

14.

Essuman

(2017). Knowledge, attitudes and practices of coastal communities on waste management in Ghana Dissertation. Novia University of Applied Sciences. https://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/123788

15.

GhanaWeb . (2025, October 31). Ghana takes historic step towards reducing plastic waste with national policy blueprint. https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Ghana-takes-historic-step-towards-reducing-plastic-waste-with-national-policy-blueprint-2007421

16.

Ghosh

Rana

Rawat

N. K.

(2025). Seaweed Extracted Biopolymer-Based Sustainable Films for Packaging Applications. In Sustainability in Polymer Technology and Plastic Engineering (pp. 309–326). Apple Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003563761-12

17.

Hens

(2006). Indigenous knowledge and biodiversity conservation and management in Ghana. Journal of Human Ecology, 20(1), 21–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/09709274.2006.11905897

18.

Hunter

(2005). The Role of Information Technologies in Indigenous Knowledge Management. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 36(2), 109–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/00048623.2005.10721252

19.

Jakes

(2024). The role of traditional knowledge in sustainable development. International Journal of Humanity and Social Sciences, 3(2), 40–55. https://doi.org/10.47941/ijhss.2079

20.

Kosoe

E. A.

Diawuo

Osumanu

I. K.

(2019). Looking into the past: Rethinking traditional ways of solid waste management in the Jaman South Municipality, Ghana. Academia, 11(1), 228–244. https://doi.org/10.4314/GJG.V11I1

21.

Lomartire

Gonçalves

A. M. M.

(2024). Seaweed-Based Biodegradable Packaging: A Green Alternative for a Plastic-Free Future. In Bala

Ghosh

Kumar

Sangwan

(Eds.), Harnessing Microbial Potential for Multifarious Applications. Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-1152-9_11

22.

Madonsela

B. S.

Semenya

Shale

(2024). A review of Indigenous knowledge systems and their application in sustainable solid waste management. World, 5(2), 219–239. https://doi.org/10.3390/world5020012

23.

Mahamah

R. A.

(2019). Nature and causes of solid waste crime at Damongo in the Northern Region of Ghana Thesis. Faculty of Integrated Development Studies. https://udsspace.uds.edu.gh/handle/123456789/2436

24.

Mawere

Mukonza

R. M.

(2025). Empowering marginalised communities: Leveraging indigenous knowledge for sustainable energy development in South Africa. Sustainable Development, 33(2), 2440–2448. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3243

25.

Mensah

A. M.

Gordon

(2020). Strategic partnerships between universities and non-academic institutions for sustainability and innovation: Insights from the university of Ghana. In Gasparatos

Ahmed

Naidoo

Karanja

Fukushi

Saito

Takeuchi

(Eds.), Sustainability challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa I: Continental perspectives and insights from Western and Central Africa (pp. 245–278). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4458-3_8

26.

Nahar

Habibi

Gavril

G.-L.

Abdelfattah

G. M. M.

Wrona

Nerín

Guo

Sarker

S. D.

(2025). Towards sustainable food packaging using natural compounds: A review of current research update. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 150, 260–274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2025.01.015

27.

Otari

S. V.

Jadhav

J. P.

(2021). Seaweed-based biodegradable biopolymers, composite, and blends with applications. In Pant

Bhatia

S. K.

Patel

A. K.

Giri

(Eds.), Bioremediation using weeds (pp. 121–149). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6552-0_6

28.

Özdoğru

A. A.

(2011). Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory. In Goldstein

Naglieri

J. A.

(Eds.), Encyclopedia of child behavior and development (pp. 300–301). Springer US. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_940

29.

Porri

McConnachie

Van Der Walt

K.-A.

Wynberg

Pattrick

(2023). Eco-creative nature-based solutions to transform urban coastlines, local coastal communities and enhance biodiversity through the lens of scientific and Indigenous knowledge. Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures, 1, Article e17. https://doi.org/10.1017/cft.2022.10

30.

Ramadani

Astari

Digdo

A. A.

Pulang

(2023). Integrating indigenous environmental and scientific knowledge for ecosystem-based adaptation of Muro practices on Lembata Island. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1220(1), 012041. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1220/1/012041

31.

Root Crop Processing . (1989). Roots, tubers, plantains and bananas in human nutrition—Nutritive value, methods of cooking and processing. https://www.fao.org/4/t0207e/t0207e06.htm

32.

Safo-Adu

(2019, August 29). Sanitation attitudes of urban dwellers and their influence on sanitation practices in central Region of Ghana. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Sanitation-Attitudes-of-Urban-Dwellers-and-their-on-Safo-Adu/317a0402f5b25f10a98eeb1fb4de4038be0e4216

33.

Sai Institute . (2024). The traditional and sustainable practice of serving food on a plantain leaf. https://saiinstitutes.in/the-traditional-and-sustainable-practice-of-serving-food-on-a-plantain-leaf/

34.

Sandaria

(2016). Eco-friendly packaging in restaurants in Accra—application, attitudes and challenges. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

35.

Sarkhel

J. K.

(2016). Strategies of indigenous knowledge management in libraries. Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in. Libraries, 5(2), 427–439.

36.

Sathiamurthy

J. R. V. G.

Gopal

R. K.

(2024). Production and evaluation of a seaweed-based bioplastic sheet for food packaging. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology, 45(14), 108–115. https://doi.org/10.56557/upjoz/2024/v45i144184

37.

Senanayake

S. G. J. N.

(2006). Indigenous knowledge as a key to sustainable development. Journal of Agricultural Sciences – Sri Lanka, 2(1), 87–94. https://doi.org/10.4038/jas.v2i1.8117

38.

Stori

F. T.

Peres

C. M.

Turra

Pressey

R. L.

(2019). Traditional ecological knowledge supports ecosystem-based management in disturbed coastal marine social-ecological systems. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, 571. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00571

39.

Sumner

(2008). Protecting and promoting indigenous knowledge: Environmental adult education and organic agriculture. Studies in the Education of Adults, 40(2), 207–223. https://doi.org/10.1080/02660830.2008.11661566

40.

Teixeira

S. C.

de Oliveira

T. V.

de Fátima Ferreira Soares

Raymundo-Pereira

P. A.

(2025). Sustainable and biodegradable polymer packaging: Perspectives, challenges, and opportunities. Food Chemistry, 470, 142652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142652

41.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) . (2022). Ghana tackles urban waste management. https://www.undp.org/blog/ghana-tackles-urban-waste-management