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

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.