Barbara Bako, Abuja
Nestlé Nigeria said it’s committed to tackling plastic pollution through recycling of the materials in line with the Federal Government’s policy.
This was disclosed on Wednesday during the official presentation of the new Nestlé Pure Life bottles now including 50% recycled PET (rPET) in Abuja .
Speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite said that every plastic manufacturing entity must have a recycling facility.
The Minister who was represented by the Director, Chemical and Non-Petrochemical Industrial Development Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Onuoha Francis said many have believed in the past that plastic pollutes the world hence there is need to do away with plastics but to the Nigerian economy plastic is of great importance.
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As regards recycling and it’s challenge, Francis said, “Industrial policy emphasizes recycling as an alternative to the plastic challenge that the world is facing.”
“Importantly you will want to address issues based on its importance to your economy. Our economy, the Nigerian economy is heavy in terms of oil and gas, Petro chemicals and plastics. So, when the world is saying phase out plastic or oil, you first understand the importance of oil to your economy , you will always want to see how you can address issues of sustainable development, how do you address challenges of plastic waste in the environment without hurting your economy.”
“The Nigerian industrial policy has taken all of these into account and placed it side by side. Today the industrial policy says every plastic manufacturing entity in Nigeria must have a recycling facility that is to ensure zero waste as much as possible within your operating environment.”
“so plastic manufacturing company of any kind even those who produce passive raw materials like the likes of indorama, and all manner of plastic , they must have a recycling facility in house which means you want to control plastic waste you generate,” he said.
He said that it is in the interest of plastic manufacturers to have recycling facilities all around either owned by the company or they engage a private sector facility to take care of the plastic waste.
During his address, the MD/CEO of Nestlé Nigeria PLC Mr. Wassim, Elhusseini said, “Since 2018, Nestlé Nigeria has been working with partners to recover as much plastic as we sell, based on a ‘one tonne in, one tonne out’ principle.
The MD said “we started on the step by teaming up with ALEF, to achieve our objective of cutting virgin plastic in our packaging by a third by 2025. Today, we are very proud to be the first to achieve this milestone of 50% rPET inclusion in our water bottles in Nigeria, thanks to the resilience of our team working with ALEF to produce food grade rPET in Nigeria.”
Mr. Elhusseini said that Nestlé Nigeria has been at the forefront of efforts to develop well-functioning collection,
sorting and recycling systems for PET in Nigeria, from the introduction of innovative bottles to collaborating with other stakeholders for increased collection while building an eco-system for recycling. ALEF was instrumental to achieving the 50% rPET in Nestlé Pure Life bottles.
During his remarks, Mr. Wissam Ramlawi, Managing Director of ALEF Recycling Company expressed his joy of the achievement of the partnership, he said, ” The strength of our partnership has been fundamental to this success. Together, we achieved the groundbreaking feat by producing rPET.”
He said “Just for everybody’s information, we are the first rPET in the ECOWAS zone before anything. When Nestle went beyond, for me, is just not willing to take the rPE. It was one step further, they have put all their facility, they have put all their know-how from Europe, from the US, whatever they have present, and they brought to the table and we said, Let’s partner together. Let’s make sure you are producing international-grade rPETs.
While commending the stakeholders, the ALEF boss said “However, all of that could not have happened without the support of NASFIA, SON, and NAFDAC, as well as Ministry of Industry.”
“Let us forge hand in hand in our commitment to reshape the future of packaging. One recycled bottle and one collaborative effort at a time,” he added.
