The Coca-Cola System in Nigeria, comprising Coca-Cola Nigeria, CHI Limited and Nigerian Bottling Company, has reiterated its commitment to promoting sustainable ecosystems and ocean preservation through its Annual System Beach Cleanup exercise in furtherance of its World Without Waste vision.
Through this vision, the company is investing in the planet and in its packaging with a goal to collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one it sells globally – regardless of where it comes from – by 2030.
Every year, The Coca-Cola System in Nigeria pulls together likeminded partners for a beach cleanup drive focused on eliminating plastic waste debris from beaches, ultimately preserving shorelines of coastal communities.
This year, in partnership with the Mental and Environmental Development Initiative for Children (MEDIC), the beverage company hosted residents and partners to yet another impactful exercise at Elegushi Beach, Lagos on last Friday, June 16th 2023.
The exercise, led by the founder of the Mental and Environmental Development Initiative for Children (MEDIC), Doyinsola Ogunye, saw an attendance of over 330 people and played host to notable environmental advocates, including community volunteers and local environmental protection agencies, all coming together, united by a singular vision of a World Without Waste, championed by Coca-Cola.
Speaking at the event, the managing director, CHI Limited, Eelco Weber, noted that, “for The Coca-Cola System in Nigeria, sustainability remains at the very core of all of our operations. We have set ambitious goals to facilitate this, and we are taking a leading role in Nigeria by collecting and recycling the equivalent of every bottle or can we sell by 2030.”
Director of public affairs, Communications, and Sustainability, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, during her opening remarks, reiterated the significance of the exercise and how the company is committed to fostering partnerships that promote environmental preservation.
She added that, “ultimately, we recognize that we can’t achieve our goals alone. Addressing plastic waste and recycling challenges requires collaboration between the industry, the public sector, and civil society.
“Through effective collaboration as well as partnerships with NGOs such as the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP), Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), we can help accelerate impact.”
Director, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Nigerian Bottling Company, Soromidayo George, also reinforced the vision of the System in advancing solutions that address waste management across the country.
She stated that it is imperative to sort recyclables like PET from other household waste and take them to the recycling banks, since recycling PET can help reduce the annual volume of plastics entering our oceans by 80%, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% and help generate income and create jobs thereby contributing to the economic development of Nigeria.
