Nestlé Ethiopia recently launched a programme to manage plastic waste in the country. This initiative which is aimed at achieving plastic neutrality by December 2021 is part of the Swiss Nestlé mission, a subsidiary that will work with the local sustainability consultant TS Environment Technology.
Nestlé Ethiopia’s plastic waste management programme was launched in the capital Addis Ababa on December 17th, 2020. Through this initiative, the subsidiary of the Swiss food specialist Nestlé wants to dispose of all its plastic waste in this East African country. In Wossenyeleh Shiferaw words “Using TS Environment’s technology and expertise, we will start with a pilot plastic waste recovery system targeting specific locations in Addis Ababa, with the intention of expanding it in the near future,” according to Wossenyeleh Shiferaw, Nestlé Group Head for the Horn of Africa.
Nestlé Ethiopia has set aside twelve months to achieve this goal. During this period, the Swiss company and its partner TS Environment will collect, sort and weigh the recycled plastic waste, which will then be processed to make further plastic products. Non-recyclable plastic waste will be incinerated to produce electricity “in an environmentally friendly process”. By the end of 2020, Nestlé Ethiopia hopes to have collected, sorted and recycled or incinerated 40 tonnes of plastic waste. Its programme is expected to accelerate the process of collecting, recycling and sustainable disposal of plastic waste in Ethiopia.
Job creation
Nestlé’s plastic waste management programme will also create jobs, both in the chain of collection, sorting, weighing and transport of plastic waste. The initiative is part of the social commitment of the Swiss company, which uses plastic extensively in the packaging of its products. Nestlé aims to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.
With the Swiss group strong presence in Ivory Coast, its subsidiary Nestlé in Ivory Coast also launched the same initiative “J’aime Cocody, loin de ma lagune les déchets plastiques“, which will help reduce plastic pollution in the lagoon bays. Similar projects are being developed in this West African region of the country.
Source: Afrik21
