The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), held a seminar to raise awareness of the  Promoting Sustainable Plastic Value Chains Through Circular Economy Practices for Recyclers Project in Abuja.

The aim of this collaboration is to contribute to Nigeria’s inclusive and sustainable industrial development and to reduce leakage of plastics into the environment.

The problem of plastic pollution has continued to grow in tandem with the increase in the use plastics, necessitating the application of measures to help mitigate the problem by ensuring a circular economy.

One of such measures is the awareness raising seminar targeted towards promoting circular economy principles and practices to ensure resource efficient production for plastic value chains in Nigeria.

Participants in the training included relevant stakeholders across the plastic value chain in Abuja and other states in northern Nigeria. Also in attendance were representatives from FBRA’s member companies, Plastic Waste Value Players: Waste pickers, Collectors, Aggregators, Recyclers and Off-takers. representatives from UNIDO, NESREA and the Federal Ministry of Environment were also present.

Amongst topics discussed during the technical sessions are Resource Efficient, Cleaner Production and its Benefits, Circular Economy, and Plastic Packaging. Nishio Nahomi, the UNIDO Project Manager, emphasised the importance of Promoting Sustainable Plastic Value Chains Through Circular Economy Practices for Recyclers project for Nigeria. Recommendations include the demonstration of Circular Economy through Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production (RECP) assessments, adoption of innovative technology and partnership with pilot companies committed to exploring Japanese improvement options.

Mr. Chukwudi Nwabuisiaku, Assistant Director, Plastics Waste Control at National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), spoke on the need to adopt circularity within the plastic value chain.

He also reassured the participants of the NESREA’s unwavering support for the success of the Promoting Sustainable Plastic Value Chains Through Circular

Economy Practices for Recyclers project. Participants expressed their appreciation of the training  and the impact it would have on their businesses.

A representative of Boskel Nigeria Limited  thanked FBRA for such an initiative and said he is eager to incorporate the new learnings in his business.

Rounding up the event, Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Lead for Nestlé Nigeria Plc, a founding member company of FBRA, thanked everyone present and encouraged participants to continue to strive towards achieving the end goal which is plastics circularity.

She also expressed the willingness of FBRA to continue to provide the support needed to transit to this circular economy for plastics in Nigeria.

FBRA registered in March 2018 as the Industry Coalition for the Food and Beverage Sector, the Packaging Producer Responsibility Organisation to implement the Extended Producer Responsibility in Nigeria.

The Alliance has membership drawn from responsible and forward-thinking companies which includes Nigerian
Bottling Company Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Seven-Up Bottling Company Limited, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Intercontinental Distillers Limited, International Breweries Limited, Tulip Cocoa, Prima Caps and Preforms, DOW Chemicals, Tetra Pak West Africa, The LaCasera Company Plc, Engee PET, Manufacturing Company Limited, Omnik Limited, UAC Foods Limited, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Perfetti Van Melle, CHI Limited, Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals
Limited, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Beta Glass Plc/Frigoglass Industries Nigeria Limited, Kellogg Tolaram Plc, CWAY Limited, Dufil Plc, Friesland Campina WAMCO, PolySmart Group, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Zard Group and British American Tobacco.