Dr Zanetor Agyeman‑Rawlings, Ghana’s Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, challenged scientists to devise plant‑based alternatives to Styrofoam ahead of the country’s planned ban on takeaway packs on January 1, 2027. The call came during the National Scientific Conference of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Speaking to the CSIR audience, the minister urged researchers to explore materials derived from cassava and hemp that could mimic the properties of conventional plastics while breaking down safely after use. “What are the alternatives to plastics that we can use? Plant‑based, all right, whether it’s cassava or hemp,” she said. “If we come up with a substance that looks like plastic, behaves like plastic and can hold whatever is in it, but once you have consumed what is in it, it breaks down into a harmless residue of some plant product which can then go back to nature, then I think we’re really making a difference.”
Dr Zanetor warned that banning Styrofoam alone would not address the broader environmental and health risks of plastic pollution, including microplastics in the food chain and toxic chemicals leaching from plastic bottles into drinking water. She highlighted concerns about heat‑induced chemical release and its potential impact on kidneys and other organs, noting that such exposure could have wider public health implications.
She added that public money should serve the people, not officials, underscoring the need for innovative, disruptive thinking in developing sustainable packaging solutions. The minister’s remarks set the stage for a national effort to transition away from single‑use plastics before the 2027 ban takes effect.
