Circular Economy of Oil Palm for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among Artisans in Ghana – A Review

For oil palm production and processing, a circular economy would entail developing and designing of process for recycling, reusing, reducing, and recovering in order to reduce waste in the sector which is closely tied to the global sustainable development goals (SDGs). Understanding this concept among artisans is very critical as they account for 80% of production and processing of oil palm in Ghana to bring prudent use of the natural resources including land, water and waste management. In this light, a review is written to explore the impact of circular economy of oil palm production and processing in Ghana in achieving seven goals of SDGs to guaranteeing the industry’s long-term survival while simultaneously minimizing the negative environmental impact of deforestation, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss. In achieving this, sectors including energy, bioorganic fertilizer and biochar, insects for food and feed, and artifact production were identified and explored in accomplishing the SDGs among artisans. It became evidential that through briquette and green gas production from waste of oil palm, a sustainable energy solution could be generated to reduce deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Again, the recycling of waste of oil palm could establish a closed-loop system that has a potential to reduce artificial fertilizers and encourage a more environmentally responsible approach to agriculture. In summary, a circular economy of oil palm has demonstrated enough contribution to achieving zero poverty and hunger, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, responsible consumption and production and climate action of SDGs.