Value chain network: A social network analysis of the value chain actors of recycled polymer products in Lagos metropolis

7^th World Convention on Waste Recycling and Reuse

May 16-17, 2018 Tokyo, Japan

Olamide S Shittu

University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Adv Recycling Waste Manag

Abstract :

Statement of the Problem: Value chain analysis is a common method of examining the stages involved in the production of a product, mostly agricultural produce, from the input to the consumption stage including the actors involved in each stage. However, the functional institutional analysis is the most common method in literature employed to analyze the value chain of products. Apart from studying the relatively neglected phenomenon of recycled polymer products in Lagos metropolis, this paper adopted the use of social network analysis to attempt a grounded theory of the nature of social network that exist among the value chain actors of the subject matter. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The study adopted a grounded theory approach by conducting in-depth interviews, administering questionnaires and conducting observations among the identified value chain actors of recycled polymer products in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria. The thematic analysis of the collected data gave the researchers the needed background to formulate a truly representative network of the social relationships among the value chain actors of recycled polymer products in Lagos metropolis. Findings: The paper introduced concepts such as transient and perennial social ties to explain the observed social relations among the actors. Some actors have more social capital than others because of the structural holes that exist in their triad network. Households and resource recoverers are at disadvantaged position in the network as they have high constraints in their relationships with other actors. Conclusion & Significance: The study attempted to provide a new perspective in the study of environmental value chain by analyzing network of actors to bring about policy action points and improve recycling in Nigeria. Government and social entrepreneurs can exploit the structural holes that exist in the network for socio-economic and sustainable development of the state. mostafa.norizadeh@beun.edu.tr