Nestlé Ethiopia recently launched a programme to manage its plastic waste in the country. The goal is to achieve plastic neutrality by December 2021. As part of this initiative, the Swiss Nestlé subsidiary will work with 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 sustainably dispose of all its plastic waste in this East African country. Nestlé Ethiopia will implement this programme in collaboration with the local sustainability consultant TS Environment Technology. “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,” says Wossenyeleh Shiferaw, Nestlé Group Head for the Horn of Africa.
Nestlé Ethiopia has set itself a one-year deadline to achieve its goal. During these twelve months, 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.
The Swiss group also has a strong presence in Ivory Coast. In September 2020, its subsidiary Nestlé Ivory Coast launched the initiative “J’aime Cocody, loin de ma lagune les déchets plastiques“. In Cocody, in the greater Abidjan area, it will help to reduce plastic pollution in the lagoon bays. Similar projects are being developed in this West African country.
Inès Magoum
