Nestlé Nigeria Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability through an ambitious nationwide plastic recycling initiative aimed at promoting a circular economy, tackling waste pollution, and creating new income opportunities for local communities.
According to the company, Nigeria generates about 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, yet less than 10 per cent of that amount is recycled effectively. The remaining plastic waste, it noted, often ends up in landfills, drains, and coastal areas—posing serious threats to the environment, clogging waterways, and increasing the risk of flooding across major cities.
To tackle this growing challenge, Nestlé said it has continued to strengthen its partnerships with government agencies, private recyclers, and community-based organisations under the umbrella of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA). The alliance serves as a Producer Responsibility Organisation—a framework that encourages producers to take responsibility for the environmental impact of their products throughout their entire lifecycle.
The FBRA, which works closely with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), has been leading efforts to implement the Extended Producer Responsibility initiative in Nigeria. This approach ensures that manufacturers are not only responsible for producing consumer goods but also for managing the waste generated from their packaging materials.
Through this partnership, Nestlé and other members of the alliance have invested in community engagement programmes, waste collection networks, and awareness campaigns designed to promote responsible consumption and recycling habits among Nigerians.
Since 2019, Nestlé Nigeria has supported the diversion of more than 61,000 tonnes of plastic waste from landfills through collaborations with local recyclers and social enterprises such as Chanja Datti, Wecyclers, and Maladase Ecopreneur Management Limited.
In addition, the company’s Plastic Advantage Programme has provided technical and financial support to 43 mini-aggregators across the country. These aggregators have received training, collection tools, and incentive schemes that help them expand operations and generate income for thousands of informal waste pickers, many of whom depend on recycling as their main source of livelihood.
Nestlé has also made progress in sustainable packaging by introducing 50 per cent recycled PET bottles for its Nestlé Pure Life Water brand — the highest proportion permitted under existing regulatory standards and the first of its kind in Nigeria’s beverage industry.
Beyond recycling, the company has launched an Employee Plastics Collection Scheme, encouraging staff to bring their used plastics to designated drop-off points at Nestlé offices and factories. The initiative, the company explained, helps build an internal culture of sustainability and contributes directly to its waste reduction goals.
Nestlé Nigeria emphasised that the journey toward a truly circular economy goes beyond private investment. The company called for greater collaboration between industry, government, and citizens to strengthen recycling infrastructure, improve waste management policies, and raise public awareness about responsible disposal.
“True circularity demands collaboration between industry, government, and citizens to ensure that plastic never becomes waste but a resource,” the company stated.
Nestlé further noted that a circular economy not only reduces pollution but also drives economic growth by creating jobs in recycling, logistics, and material recovery. The company added that the recycling value chain has the potential to empower thousands of Nigerians, especially women and youths, through sustainable income opportunities.
Nestlé Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Nestlé S.A., has been operating in the country for over 60 years. The firm, which is listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), manufactures popular household products such as Milo, Maggi, Golden Morn, Cerelac, and Nestlé Pure Life Water.
With initiatives like the circular economy programme, the company said it aims to reinforce its long-term sustainability vision while contributing to the achievement of Nigeria’s environmental protection goals.
