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Nestlé said it has partnered with local sustainability consultant TS Environment to establish a plastic waste recovery program in Ethiopia. The goal of the program is to achieve plastics neutrality in the next 12 months.
This means that Nestlé has collected and co-processed the equivalent amount of plastic contained in the products sold and prevented the additional flow of plastic to landfills. By the end of 2020, approximately 40 tonnes of plastic waste would have been collected, classified and recycled or incinerated.
The program will accelerate the process of sustainable collection, recycling and disposal of plastic waste in Ethiopia.
“Plastic waste is one of the biggest sustainability problems facing the world today. Tackling it requires a collective approach. We are committed to finding improved solutions to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic, and this partnership will help us achieve our goal, ”said Wossenyeleh Shiferaw, cluster manager for Nestlé Horn of Africa.
Shiferaw added: “Leveraging TS Environment’s technology and expertise, we will begin a pilot plastic waste recovery system targeting specific locations in Addis Ababa, with the intention of scaling this in the near future.”
Once plastic waste is collected, it will be sorted, weighed, and subsequently recyclable plastic will be processed to produce other plastic products, while non-recyclable plastic waste will be incinerated to release energy through an environmentally friendly process.
Nestlé’s plastic waste management initiative will also create income-generating opportunities across the value chain, for example, local residents and youth will benefit from collection, sorting, weighing and transportation services.
As the world’s largest food and beverage company, Nestlé is committed to taking a leadership role in addressing the challenge of plastic waste. In 2018, the company made a global commitment to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.
In pursuing this commitment, Nestlé is taking a holistic approach to tackling the complex and urgent problem of plastic waste. Nestlé is accelerating its initiatives in three focus areas:
• Develop packaging for the future, through innovation in packaging and delivery and reduction of plastic;
• Help shape a waste-free future through increased collection and recycling; and
• Promote new behaviors and understanding through education on solid waste management.
