Consumer goods companies form Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance

Diageo, Unilever, The Coca-Cola Co. and Nestlé launched the Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance during the Africa CEO Forum March 24-26 in Kigali, Rwanda.

According to a news release, the alliance aims to “turn the current challenge” of plastic scrap in Sub Saharan Africa “into an opportunity to create jobs and commercial activity by improving the collection and recycling of plastics.”

The Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance has been established for companies to:

• facilitate and support their local subsidiaries to engage proactively in market level public-private partnerships, industry collaboration and alliances; 
• share knowledge, encourage innovation and collaborate on technical and other solutions appropriate for Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as participate in local pilot initiatives; and
• engage with the investment community, policymakers and others to accelerate the development and financing of the necessary waste management infrastructure and systems.

The Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance released the following statement:

“Plastics will remain an important packaging material if we are to give African consumers the safe and affordable products they need. However, we need to ensure that used packaging does not end up as litter. 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. 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.”

The consumer goods companies have made notable sustainability commitments. Unilever, London, has vowed to use 100 percent reusable, recyclable or compostable and 25 percent recycled plastic content in its products by 2025. Diageo, London, has set a goal to achieve 40 percent recycled content in plastic bottles and 100 percent by 2030.

To help collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can its sells globally, The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, has committed to produce 100 percent recyclable packaging by 2025 and use at least 50 percent recycled material in packaging by 2030.

Nestlé, Vevey, Switzerland, has also committed to make 100 percent of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.