Business Partnership Facility

Upcycling cocoa residuals for a more resilient building industry

• Ghana
• 2022
• Completed

Challenge

On the one hand, the rapid population growth in Ghana translates to an exponential need for accessible and adapted housing solutions. At the same time, approximately 70% of construction materials are imported, presenting a myriad of challenges. On the other hand, unused cocoa residuals are largely available.

Innovative solution

The partners conducted a feasibility study with the goal of repurposing abundant cocoa production residues into construction materials. Prototype construction boards have been developed and tested.

Impact

• Development of an alternative building industry
• Improvement of inhabitants’ lives by offering access to local, affordable and low emissions building materials
• In the long term: upcycling of 15,000 metric tons of residual material, with total mitigated emissions equal to 21,900 tons CO2/year, for the next 20+ years

Targeted Sustainable Development Goals

• 
  The locally sourced, affordable and low-emission production materials are accessible to local populations.
• 
  The sustainable and locally developed construction industry represents an alternative to more polluting traditional construction material imports.
• 
  The residues from cocoa production thus recycled constitute a potential volume of 1,500 metric tons.
• 
  With reduced imports of construction materials, there is a potential reduction of 21,900 tons of CO2 per year.

Latest news about the project

News

• Business Partnership Facility

  
  Jun. 2026

  Ten years of impact: Celebrating the BPF with Luxinnovation

  For a decade, the Business Partnership Facility (BPF) has been helping businesses turn expertise and innovation into high-impact projects worldwide. As the initiative marks its 10th anniversary, long-standing partner Luxinnovation joins the celebration, reflecting on its role in supporting companies throughout the process.