The energy valorization of cashew nut shells, the main residue from raw cashew nut processing, is emerging as a promising alternative for agro-food industries. It offers sustainable waste management solutions and contributes to the diversification of energy sources. In the context of Burkina Faso, where the cashew nut industry holds a significant economic and social importance, growing interest in this practice is evident among industrial stakeholders. However, the success and the sustainability of this practice heavily depend on its social acceptability among the local communities. Social acceptability, a multidimensional concept, encompasses various elements such as perceptions, environmental concerns, perceived economic benefits, and social impacts. Unlike a static view that considers only two dynamics of public response (acceptable or unacceptable), this research proposes to go beyond a static understanding of social acceptability, emphasizing that it can be considered along different degrees. The works of Batellier, (2015), Fortin & Fournis (2016), Gendron (2014) and Fortin (2020) have shown that it can be classified along a continuum. In the literature, various factors have been identified as influencing social acceptability (Alam et al., 2020; Batellier, 2016; Champagne & Côté-Demers, 2020; Roy, 2018; Hajib, 2021); however, few studies have distinguished these factors based on acceptability categories or degrees. This research adopts a dynamic approach aiming to identify factors contributing to the social acceptability of energy valorization of cashew nut shells, taking into account divergences between different acceptability categories defined as "non-acceptable", "hesitant", "acceptable despite", and "acceptable". The objective is to examine these different categories, identify factors influencing divergent attitudes, and formulate recommendations to improve social acceptability and promote the successful implementation of this practice. By employing a Gene