Nestlé Nigeria Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to building a circular economy through an ambitious nationwide plastic recycling drive aimed at tackling waste pollution, promoting environmental sustainability, and unlocking new economic opportunities for local communities.
The company outlined its efforts in an article titled “Building a Circular Nigeria: How Private Sector Collaboration is Transforming Plastic Waste into Opportunity,” which was shared with The PUNCH on Tuesday.
According to Nestlé, Nigeria produces about 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, with less than 10 per cent effectively recycled. The remaining waste ends up in landfills, waterways and coastal zones, a situation that continues to endanger ecosystems, block drainage systems and increase the country’s vulnerability to flooding.
To address this, Nestlé said it has continued to strengthen partnerships with government agencies, recycling organisations and community-based enterprises under the umbrella of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, a Producer Responsibility Organisation founded by major consumer goods companies.
FBRA, working closely with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, is spearheading Nigeria’s adoption of Extended Producer Responsibility, a framework that mandates producers to take accountability for the environmental impact of their products throughout their lifecycle.
Through this alliance, Nestlé and its partners have developed new waste collection and recycling systems, strengthened community engagement and invested in awareness programmes designed to drive behavioural change.
Since 2019, Nestlé Nigeria has helped divert more than 61,000 tonnes of plastic waste from landfills by supporting recyclers and social enterprises such as Chanja Datti, Wecyclers and Maladase Ecopreneur Management Ltd. The company’s Plastic Advantage Programme also supports 43 mini-aggregators with training, equipment and financial incentives to expand their collection capacity and create income streams for thousands of informal waste pickers.
In a major step towards sustainable packaging, the company introduced 50 per cent recycled PET bottles for its Nestlé Pure Life Water, a first in Nigeria and the highest level permitted under current regulatory standards.
Beyond production and recycling, Nestlé has implemented an Employee Plastics Collection Scheme, which encourages staff to bring their plastic waste to designated drop-off points at offices and factories. The initiative, it said, not only strengthens its internal culture of sustainability but also contributes to measurable environmental impact.
Nestlé emphasised that while corporate investments are crucial, Nigeria’s path to circularity requires stronger policy support, public awareness and infrastructure development.
“True circularity demands collaboration between industry, government and citizens to ensure that plastic never becomes waste but a resource,” the company said in the article.
Nestlé Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Nestlé S.A., has operated in Nigeria for more than 60 years. The company, listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited, manufactures household staples such as Milo, Maggi, Golden Morn, Cerelac and Nestlé Pure Life Water.
