AFRICA – Nestlé in partnership with other international consumer goods companies, have launched the Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance in a move to promote plastic waste reduction in Africa.
Members of the environmental protection alliance include Diageo, Unilever, The Coca Cola Company, and Nestlé.
Speaking in Kigali, Rwanda during the Africa CEO Forum 2019, Gabriel Opoku-Asare, head Diageo in Society Africa said in a joint statement after the launch of the alliance that:
“Collaboration within and across markets will be key to success so we are proud to launch the Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance today to increase those efforts and play our part as companies in finding solutions that work for Africa”
According to its members, the alliance aims to turn the current challenge of plastic waste in Sub-Saharan Africa into an opportunity to create jobs and commercial activity by improving the collection and recycling of plastics.
“Plastics will remain an important packaging material if we are to give African consumers the safe and affordable products they need.
Unfortunately, a lack of collection and recycling capacity in many African markets coupled with growing populations is creating a growing problem of plastics waste.
We see an opportunity to tackle that problem in a way that creates jobs and reduces dependency on imported materials while alternatives to plastics are developed,” the Alliance noted.
Among the goals of the Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance will include: facilitating and supporting their local subsidiaries to engage proactively in market level public private partnerships, industry collaboration and alliances.
The alliance was also been established to provide a platform for companies to share knowledge, encourage innovation and collaborate on technical and other solutions appropriate for Sub-Saharan Africa as well as participate in local pilot initiatives.
Additionally, it will also enable the members to engage with the investment community, policy makers and other stakeholders to accelerate the development and financing of the necessary waste management infrastructure and systems.
Nestle said that the alliance will strengthen its commitment to accelerate action to tackle plastic waste, as part of its ambitions to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.
In a bid to shape a waste-free future in Sub-Saharan African region, Nestle has engaged in various initiatives across the continent aimed at actualising the vision.
These include active participation in organizations like Ghana Recycling Initiative by Private Enterprises (GRIPE) and the Food & Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) in Ghana and Nigeria.
