To combat plastic waste and drive economic growth, Coca-Cola Nigeria and its authorised bottler, the Nigerian Bottling Company, have launched a state-of-the-art plastic packaging collection hub in Apapa, Lagos.
This initiative is set to be a game-changer for Nigeria’s circular economy, promoting recycling and sustainability while creating economic opportunities.
The project is part of Coca-Cola’s commitment to reducing plastic waste and fostering a circular economy where materials are reused and recycled instead of discarded.
This approach tackles environmental challenges and creates jobs and wealth for local communities.
During the hub’s inauguration, the minister of trade and investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, lauded the initiative as a major step forward in sustainability, economic development, and environmental responsibility.
She emphasised that Coca-Cola’s investment aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for a self-sustaining and prosperous nation.
Dr Jumoke Oduwole lauded the initiative as a major step forward in sustainability, economic development, and environmental responsibility.
“The launch of this facility demonstrates the power of private sector collaboration in addressing global environmental challenges while simultaneously creating employment and economic opportunities,” Oduwole stated.
The newly opened hub is expected to generate numerous waste collection, sorting, processing, and logistics jobs. Additionally, Coca-Cola has pledged to increase the use of recycled plastic in its packaging to 30-35% globally and aims to collect 70-75% of bottles and cans introduced into the market by 2035.
The collection hub, designed to process up to 13,000 metric tonnes of plastic bottles per year, is a critical milestone in Coca-Cola’s sustainability efforts. It complements the company’s long-term investment in Nigeria, which has contributed over $1.5 billion in the past decade. It plans to invest an additional $1 billion over five years.
Like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria faces high unemployment rates. Initiatives like this collection hub can provide much-needed employment and income, particularly for youth and women in waste management and recycling.
Beyond job creation, the hub is expected to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship. Local businesses can engage in different aspects of the recycling process, from waste collection to developing new products from recycled materials. This could help build a thriving green economy, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) emerging to meet the growing demand for recycled products and services.
Plastic waste pollution remains a pressing environmental issue worldwide, and Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is no exception. With over 200 million people, rapid urbanisation has intensified the plastic waste crisis, threatening public health, ecosystems, and overall well-being.
Nigeria ranks ninth globally in plastic waste generation and struggles with an inefficient waste management. As concerns over resource depletion and climate change escalate, adopting a circular economy becomes increasingly relevant.
Coca-Cola’s plastic packaging collection hub represents a crucial step in addressing these challenges and underscores private companies’ role in building a more sustainable future.
Through this initiative, Coca-Cola is championing environmental sustainability and paving the way for economic empowerment and long-term national development.
