Circular Business Platform

18/08/2026

In Nigeria's circular economy ecosystem, there has been constant emphasis on the need for the government and policy development institutions to develop practical policies that reflect industry needs. This is to ensure policies enable and do not counter development.

Many policies have been developed to enable the development of the circular economy in Nigeria, including the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, A Roadmap for the Sustainable Use of Plastics in Nigeria, and the National Policy on Waste Battery Management 2022.

The provision of these policies is commendable, but an important process in ensuring policies reflect practice is stakeholders' validation.

Stakeholder validation of policies is increasingly recognised as essential across the ecosystem; however, this process needs not just to happen. It needs to be strengthened to genuinely represent every stakeholder. This ensures that the policy adopted reflects industry needs, ensures even representation and enhances implementation. It boosts stakeholders' trust, confidence and relationship with the policy development partners.

Add yours. Why do you believe stakeholders' validation of policies matters?

RoadtoPolicyImplementation PolicyDevelopment.

04/08/2026

Today is special for the Circular Business Platform because it's your birthday!

Thank you for your hard work. Kudos to your hard work, resilience, and remarkable achievements! Thank you for saying ‘YES’ to the growth of the Circular Business Platform; when you do that, you bring Nigeria closer to its vision of becoming a sustainable nation.

Everyone at the Circular Business Platform wishes you a joyful birthday, good health, and many more years of purpose and success.

18/07/2026

Happy Birthday Victor Boyle-Komolafe,

The Circular Business Platform (CBP) cheers you on your special day and wishes you renewed strength as you continue to positively impact Nigeria's trajectory in plastic innovation and circular economy.

May you continue to enjoy fulfilment in your work.

Happy Birthday!

24/06/2026

22/05/2026

A common myth about sustainability is that it always requires expensive technology, complex systems or sophisticated innovation. Sometimes, sustainability begins with something as simple as letting sunlight in.

The images above show a subtle but powerful energy conservation strategy observed during CBP’s visit to ReelFruit in the first quarter of 2026. is a Nigerian company founded by Affiong Williams that processes and distributes locally grown fruits, including pineapples, coconuts and mangoes. Instead of relying entirely on enclosed roofing and electricity-powered lighting during the day, polycarbonate roofing sheets were integrated into sections of the facility to harness natural daylight for indoor illumination

For instance, if a small manufacturing company on a single plot of land runs 20 hours a day, 7 days a week, its lightning alone consumes around 1,200kWh every month. Now consider replacing that with polycarbonate or transparent roof sheets that channel natural daylight into the facility. About 60% (720kWh) of that energy cost disappears. That is a simple design choice with environmental, economic, and social value. It helps ReefFruit manage the downside of its business environment, where electricity is expensive and unreliable.

Aside from the glaring benefit that this approach can help lower electricity consumption, reduce energy costs, and minimise the need for excessive electrical installations and daytime lighting usage, a hidden benefit for employers is that exposure to natural daylight in workspaces has been associated with improved alertness, reduced eye strain, lower fatigue levels, and enhanced workplace productivity.
Could a simple adjustment like this help reduce energy costs in your own facility or workspace?
……..
At Circular Business Platform, part of our culture is visiting circular businesses and enterprises that integrate sustainability into their operations. These visits help us identify practical, replicable ideas that can inspire entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and SMEs to build more resource-efficient businesses.

18/05/2026

Members of the Nigeria Circular Economy Working Group (NCEWG), including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Environment, African Circular Economy Alliance, World Economic Forum, European Union, World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, UNDP, Dutch Consulate in Lagos, Circular Economy Innovation Partnership (CEIP), the Africa Circular Economy Network (ACEN), and others, convened for their first quarterly meeting of the year to examine both the opportunities and the constraints shaping the transition.

At the meeting, members identified that much progress has been made in the country in embracing the circular economy, including the pioneering of circular microgrids and EV battery repurposing in six African countries, with Nigeria leading, the progress of the Nigeria Circular Roadmap from planning to implementation, and the presence of a legal framework and policies to validate efforts.

Nonetheless, funding gaps, inadequate infrastructure, limited local recycling technologies, and weak policy enforcement continue to pose challenges not only for the emerging circular microgrids and EV battery repurposing but for Nigeria’s broader circular transition. The real work now lies in building the systems, partnerships, and financing mechanisms that can translate circular ambition into measurable outcomes.

Follow CBP to stay updated on the NCEWG Q2 meeting

For enquiries on how to join the NCEWG, send us a DM.

08/05/2026

Sometime last year, we dropped a post about styrofoam (Expanded Polystyrene). Today, we want to share a bit more about styrene but not in a scientific way.
Think of styrene as a single raw cocoa bean - the base ingredient of polystyrene. It comes straight from petroleum or natural gas, e.g. methane, ethane etc. On its own, it’s just a bean ( in this case, a styrene), it is colourless, and a clear liquid.

Just the same way you have different chocolate products from the Cocoa bean e.g., cocoa powder, chocolate bars, chocolate pudding; different types of polystyrene can be made by adding other ingredients and using different manufacturing techniques.

Styrene is referred to as styrene monomer (i.e. single block or molecule) when it is used as a building base for polystyrene. For the bean to transform into a cocoa product, it involves grinding, sieving, and some other processes, but for styrene, many styrene molecules are chemically linked together to form polystyrene (“poly” meaning many) through a process called polymerisation. Essentially, styrene is the base monomer used in making polystyrene, which is then transformed into different types for different needs.

We would like to keep this analogy in mind because, in our follow-up post in the , we will learn about the types of polystyrene. Knowing this is useful, as each type influences its real-world applications.

For the scientifically minded audience, did our analogy translate the technical concept of polystyrene into everyday understanding?

29/04/2026

Why should you care about the different types of polystyrene?

In today’s , we are breaking it down.

From our observation, there is a common misconception in Nigeria that all polystyrene is harmful to the environment, leading to blanket assumptions that it has been completely banned, but that is untrue. What is actually under scrutiny is Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), one of the five types of polystyrene. In addition, the ongoing ban on EPS in Lagos, Oyo and Abia states is specifically on its use in food packaging and not in other use cases such as construction or electronics.

So why does this matter?
Because understanding the different types of polystyrene helps you:
• Distinguish between what is regulated and what is still widely used
• Better understand the polystyrene value chain, its uses and limitations
• Identify where the exact environmental concerns lie and where they do not.

Like plastic and many production materials, polystyrene is not inherently “bad”, its impact depends on how and where it is applied.The more informed we are, the better decisions we can make as consumers, businesses, and policymakers.

Save this post for reference and share it with someone working in manufacturing, packaging, or sustainability.



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17/01/2026

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The Nigeria Circular Economy Week Young Scholars Prize invites early-career researchers (35 years and
under) to submit applied research proposals that address business and policy approaches to scaling
circular business models in Nigeria.

Eligible research themes include:
• Data collection and analysis on material disposal and recycling rates
• Circular design, production efficiency, and recycling in the textiles sector
• Application of fly ash to improve soil fertility
• Waste-to-energy technologies
• Evidence-based policy decision-making

Selected scholars will participate in a research bootcamp in Lagos and compete for a ₦1,000,000 prize.

📅 Application deadline: 27 January, 2026
📍 Bootcamp: 16-19 February 2026 | Lagos

For full details on the themes and how to apply: Link in bio or visit bit.ly/NCEWResearchYSP


NigeriaCEWeek CircularEconomy Sustainability

15/01/2026

We are taking the Circular Economy Mainstream in Nigeria!!!

Registration is now open for Nigeria Circular Economy Week 2026, happening on the 16 –19 February 2026.

Join policymakers, businesses, researchers, and development partners as we explore how the circular economy can drive economic growth, innovation, and industrial competitiveness in Nigeria.

Get ready for in-depth conversations on key pillars of Nigeria’s circular transition:
Circular Economy Investment Fund
Public Policy
Trade and Knowledge Exchange
Research- Knowledge to Practice
SME Growth

Attendance is free, but registration is required.

Secure your spot at here: bit.ly/NCEWREG

CEStrategyWeek20