Victoria Mgbanwa
THE Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) al in collaboration with other environment-focused groups has impelled the Nigerian Bottling Company which are, producers of Coca-Cola, Seven Up Bottling Company and other producers of plastic to engage in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) by taking responsibility of the plastic waste they produce.
This was made during the Return-To-Sender Action organised by ERA/FoEN and other groups recently in Benin City, as an extended action of a Brand Audit Exercise in four different markets in the city.
The event was made to achieve the highest polluting brands.
According to the group, the Nigerian Bottling ComSeven-Up Seven Up Bottling Company came up with the highest numbers of plastic waste products, with a frequency rate of 33 percent and 23 percent, respectively.
The exercise which was carried out in collaboration with Zero Waste Ambassadors (ZEWA), Edo Civil Society Organisation (EdoCSO) and Students Environmental Assembly of Nigeria (SEAN), University of Benin Chapter, involved the collection of discarded plastic bottles which were returned to Coca-Cola and Seven-Up facilities in Benin City.
Chima Williams, the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, who was represented by Babawale Obayanju, said that the flooding experienced in Benin City and its environs is aggravated by the plastic waste materials that have found their way to the drainage systems and waterways.
He said, “We brought their plastic waste back to them as it is polluting our environment and based on our findings during the brand audit, The Coca-Cola Seven-Up Seven Up Bottling Company and others primarily use plastics for their packaging, including PET bottles with plastic caps.
“It is very crucial for these companies to design and develop a take-back or withdrawal scheme for their products as there are no active withdrawal schemes currently in place. Implementing the take-back/withdrawal schemes and exploring circular economy models can enhance recycling rates and reduce plastic pollution.”
“We also request that The Coca-Cola Company and the other brands should have a squint at further research and development into eco-friendly packaging materials, collaborate with recycling partners, and engage with consumers to achieve its plastic reduction targets and contribute to a cleaner environment”, he added.
He also further stated that statistics clearly show that the identified companies’ products were contributing heavily to the plastic waste menace in Benin without appropriate recycling systems in place.
He also urged all Nigerian Bottling Company, Seven Up Bottling Company, CWAY Group and others to transition to sustainable packaging alternatives such as biodegradable materials, reusable containers, or reduced plastic packaging
Also speaking at the event was, Melody Enyinnaya, Project Officer, Waste Management of ERA/FoEN, who stated that the plastic pollution experienced in Benin City was appalling because of manufacturers producing without retrieving their waste. “This situation has thrown our environment into a dumping ground for plastics especially our drainage systems and our rivers; she further demanded that coca cola, seven up and all other manufacturers with plastic plastics waste from the environment asfished fishes in our rivers not their plastics,” she said.
