Bringing a circular economy perspective into global production networks: Cocoa pod husk-based compost production in Ghana

Approaches such as that of global production networks (GPN) analyze the prevailing linear economy but tend to neglect the considerable quantity of by-products (BPs). To address this, we aim at enhancing the approach with a circular economy (CE) perspective, which is a novel contribution. Moreover, the study examines the barriers that hinder the successful implementation of CE strategies, focusing on knowledge provision, organization, dissemination, and receipt. For this, the case study of Ghanaian cocoa production and the (re-)use of its primary BP, cocoa pod husks, in the form of composting is used. The analysis shows that requisite knowledge exists at the provision stage of the knowledge infrastructure but often not at the organization, dissemination, and receipt stage, which calls for improving the flow of knowledge between the actors. As the knowledge is concentrated among a small number of actors, training needs to be made more widely and diversely accessible by powerful actors as they shape the knowledge infrastructure. The study is empirically based on qualitative and quantitative data. The approach could be adapted to other agricultural sectors that produce significant BPs, such as coffee or palm oil. Moreover, the concepts developed can inform broader supply chain management practices by emphasizing sustainability, waste reduction, and resource efficiency across diverse industries and countries. However, careful consideration of the local context is necessary before transferring the insights, especially given the few studies available.