Nestlé Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability through a nationwide clean-up and community sensitisation campaign.
The annual event, in its sixth edition was executed in collaboration with the African Clean-Up Initiative (ACI) and local authorities, mobilised a total of 516 Nestlé Cares volunteers from the Nestlé head office, branch offices, and factories.
The clean-up efforts spanned 11 cities, focusing on high-footfall market hubs such as Oke-Arin Market in Lagos, Utako Market in Abuja, Abubakar Rimi Market in Kano, Satellite Market in Jos, Sabo Market in Sagamu, Bodija Market in Ibadan, Okoko Market in Agbara, Abaji Market in Abaji, Holyghost Market in Enugu, Aguawka Market in Awka and Mile 3 Market in Port Harcourt.
In a press statement signed by Victoria Uwadoka, corporate affairs manager, Nestlé Nigeria, she explained the selection modalities of the markets, noting that they were strategically selected based on their waste burden and community impact, resulting in the collective removal of 5,601 kilograms of solid and 379.2 kilograms of recyclable waste.
Speaking at the Lagos centre of the sanitation exercise, Mrs Uwadoka, emphasised the alignment of the initiative with the World Environment Day theme, “Curbing Plastic Pollution.” She said, “At Nestlé, our commitment to fighting plastic waste is integral to our vision of a waste-free future. This vision encompasses internal accountability and proactive stakeholder engagement.Through strategic partnerships with the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) and plastic waste recyclers such as Alef recycling, Wecyclers, Chanja Datti and Maladase Ecopreneurs Management Ltd. (MECOM), we are supporting the advancement of circularity within the plastics value chain.
“In addition, our Employee Plastics Collection Scheme (EPCS), launched in 2022, empowers our employees to take responsibility for their environmental impact by recycling their plastic waste. Through the EPCS, we have achieved diversion of 5,922 kg of plastic waste from landfills. Collectively, our initiatives have successfully retrieved over 61,000 metric tons of plastic from the environment since 2019”.
Dr Alex Akhigbe, founder of the African Clean-Up Initiative, articulated the broader vision driving this partnership “This initiative transcends a mere clean-up, it represents a sustainability movement grounded in the principles of collective responsibility, collaboration and the circular economy. The fight against plastic pollution requires deliberate action. Every bottle collected, every conversation initiated, contributes to shaping a culture of environmental consciousness. Our goal is to inspire a generation that values and protects our planet.”
Uwadoka further highlights the essence of the initiative, saying it demonstrates Nestlé Nigeria’s integrated approach to sustainability, merging operational accountability with grassroots engagement.
As the company progresses in its broader sustainability agenda, she averred that initiatives such as this serve as a model for how corporate actions can stimulate community-driven impact, reinforcing the shared responsibility to protect environmental resources today, and for future generations.
