Nestlé becomes first in Nigeria to attain 50% rPET inclusion
Nestlé’s has become the first company in Nigeria to attain 50% rPET inclusion project for its bottled water brands — the first initiative of its kind in Nigeria. Across Nigeria’s vibrant cities and expanding peri-urban communities, signs of progress abound — new markets, rising consumer demand, and a youthful population eager to shape the future. Yet, alongside this growth lies a persistent challenge: plastic waste. From the crowded streets of Lagos to the waterways of the Niger Delta, discarded plastics clog drainage systems, pollute the environment, and endanger both livelihoods and ecosystems.
Nigeria produces an estimated 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, with less than 10% properly recycled. Across West Africa, over 80% of plastic waste remains unmanaged, putting pressure on public health, marine life, and local economies. Still, amid these challenges, a quiet revolution is taking root — powered by innovation, collaboration, and forward-thinking policy reform.
Private Sector Leadership: Building a Circular Future
The private sector has become a key driver in Nigeria’s effort to tackle plastic pollution — not only through internal sustainability projects but by actively shaping the systems that make recycling and circularity possible.
One major force behind this movement is the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) — Nigeria’s first Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO). This coalition of leading companies champions Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), ensuring that producers and importers take accountability for their packaging even after it reaches consumers.
Through strategic collaboration with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), FBRA is helping institutionalise EPR principles nationwide. Its advocacy has influenced policy development, operational frameworks, and recycling models that are now being replicated across different industries, creating a national blueprint for sustainable waste management.
Shared Action, Shared Impact: Industry Commitment in Motion
FBRA’s power lies in collective action. Member organisations are not just financing recycling projects; they are investing in long-term systems that make recycling practical and profitable. From funding collection networks to supporting community aggregators and promoting the use of recycled materials, these companies are turning waste into opportunity for thousands of Nigerians.
Among the strongest examples of this collective effort is Nestlé Nigeria, one of FBRA’s founding members, whose investments in community-based recycling and packaging innovation continue to set the pace for others.
Nestlé Nigeria: Turning Plastic Waste into Economic Opportunity
As a founding partner of FBRA, Nestlé Nigeria has remained deeply involved in strengthening the recycling ecosystem and advancing responsible waste management. Since 2019, Nestlé’s collaborations with FBRA, recyclers, and local social enterprises — including Chanja Datti, Wecyclers, and Maladase Ecopreneur Management Ltd — have diverted more than 61,000 tonnes of plastic waste from landfills.
Through the Plastic Advantage Programme, the company empowers 43 mini-aggregators across Nigeria by providing training, recycling equipment, and access to stable markets for collected waste. This model not only boosts local recycling capacity but also enables inclusive economic participation, allowing waste collectors and small businesses to thrive.
A major milestone from these efforts is Nestlé’s 50% rPET inclusion project for its bottled water brands — the first initiative of its kind in Nigeria. With half of its plastic bottles now made from recycled PET, Nestlé has achieved the highest standard allowed under current national regulations. This accomplishment highlights the company’s leadership in circular packaging, demonstrating how innovation and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
Nestlé’s internal initiatives also reflect its broader vision of sustainability. The Nestlé Employee Plastics Collection Scheme encourages staff to bring recyclables to work for proper processing, cultivating an internal culture of responsibility. It is a reminder that real change begins with individual action — and that corporate sustainability starts from within.
The Road Ahead: Collaboration, Policy, and Purpose
The progress achieved by FBRA, Nestlé, and other industry partners underscores a powerful lesson — that sustainability thrives where collaboration exists. Through shared responsibility, consistent policy direction, and private-sector innovation, Nigeria is laying the groundwork for a circular economy that transforms plastic waste into social and economic value.
However, the work is far from finished. Without sustained engagement, plastic pollution may continue to grow faster than the country’s recycling capacity. The future depends on expanding public-private collaboration, enforcing EPR regulations, and scaling up community-level innovations that make recycling accessible to all.
Nestlé’s journey shows that lasting impact is possible when purpose meets partnership. What began as a drive to recover waste has evolved into a movement that links environmental care with economic empowerment — proving that a cleaner, more sustainable Nigeria is not a distant dream, but an unfolding reality.
