East Africa’s beverage makers mark World Environment Day by engaging in ecosystem restoring activities

EAST AFRICA – Soft beverage manufacturers and plastic bottle recyclers in Tanzania, joined hands in celebration of the World Environment Day by engaging in a clean-up exercise.

The initiative which entailed beach clean-up and plastic waste management awareness at Coco-Beach in Dar es Salaam, was facilitated by Petco Tanzania, registered as Pet Recycle Company (T) Ltd, responsible for collection and recycling of post-consumer PET bottles in Tanzania.

The organization was found by Coca-Cola Kwanza, Pepsi Tanzania, SilaAfrica Ltd, A-One, Sayona, Nyanza Bottlers and Bonite Bottlers, who were the active participants in the environment conservation affair, reports Citizen Tanzania.

Speaking during the event Coca-Cola Kwanza’s Director of public affairs, communications and sustainability, Mr. Salum Nassor said, “Our environment and our communities are the center of everything we do.

“We have seen as demonstrated by recyclers today that these PET bottles can be given second life post consumption, Petco Tanzania will help us facilitate their collection and recycling.”

The Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Exaud Kigahe who graced the occasion expressed his delight in seeing the sector competitors coming together for the good cause.

“Our environment and our communities are the center of everything we do.”

Coca-Cola Kwanza’s Director of public affairs, communications and sustainability – Mr. Salum Nassor

Meanwhile in Uganda, the country’s leading beer maker, Uganda Breweries Limited, in partnership with the Ministry of Water and Environment and Tree Adoption Uganda (TAU), planted 5,000 trees in Nakaseke District in commemoration of the World Environment Day.

The initiative is in support of the Running Out of Trees (ROOTs) Campaign, launched by the government in 2020, with the aim of engaging stakeholders both in the public and private sector in making a contribution towards attaining national restoration goals.

This year, Uganda targets to plant over 40 million trees. Other than planting the 5,000 trees, UBL has already contributed Ush 330m (US$92,000) to be channelled towards growing and maintaining trees.

David Onyango, the Head of Communications and Sustainability at UBL emphasized the need to create good relations with the environment to fight the negative effects brought about by mismanagement of the ecosystem.

“Uganda’s catchment areas are vital in providing livelihoods to millions of Ugandans through activities like fishing, trade and providing fresh water.

“It therefore has become a necessity for Uganda Breweries, every couple of years, to recommit to tree planting activities in these areas to continue to support communities that depend on the lake for their daily bread,” Onyango said.

The World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5 June, with a focus to generate awareness about the significance of nature and importance of conserving the environment. This year’s theme was Ecosystem Restoration.

It was paramount for the beverage manufacturers to come to the fore and advocate for environment conversation, given that a report by International relief and development agency Tearfund, allegedly found that food and beverage companies are responsible for half a million tonnes of plastic pollution in six developing countries a year.