Nestlé Nigeria has launched a multi-stakeholder coalition aimed at driving sustained environmental action across communities nationwide. The initiative, which commemorates the 2026 World Environment Day, focuses on reducing waste leakage, strengthening collection systems, and scaling circular solutions through collective action.
Building on six years of nationwide awareness and clean-up initiatives, the coalition represents a coordinated, systems-led approach that brings together government, regulators, industry, recyclers, and development partners to advance circular economy outcomes.
Key Partners in the Coalition
The coalition brings together key institutions across the plastics value chain, including the Federal Ministry of Environment, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, and the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). Industry platforms such as the National Plastics Action Partnership (NPAP), the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), the Circular Economy Innovation Partnership (CEIP), and the Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN) are also part of the initiative.
In a statement signed by the Corporate Affairs Manager of Nestlé Nigeria, Toju Egbebi, the initiative is supported by development partners, including the Swiss Consulate and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and implemented by the African Clean-Up Initiative. The programme will be delivered across 12 locations nationwide through community sensitisation and clean-up activities.
Focus on Sustainable Communities
Focused on advancing more sustainable and resilient communities, the programme will support environmental awareness, strengthen waste recovery efforts, and promote responsible waste management practices. These efforts contribute to cleaner public spaces and reduced waste leakage into the environment.
The company stated that the coalition reinforces Nestlé Nigeria’s commitment to plastics neutrality and responsible packaging while supporting stronger waste recovery systems and deeper collaboration across the plastics value chain. It also demonstrates a scalable model for public-private collaboration in addressing environmental challenges.
Statements from Leadership
Speaking at the launch, Victoria Uwadoka, Lead Corporate Communications, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Nestlé Nigeria, said waste management outcomes improve when intervention shifts from awareness alone to shared accountability across the value chain. She explained that the coalition is designed to connect policy, infrastructure, community action, and market-based recovery systems to deliver more durable environmental results.
Uwadoka noted that over the past six years, Nestlé Nigeria has worked with partners across the value chain to strengthen plastic waste recovery and advance circular economy outcomes. Since 2019, these collaborative efforts have helped recover more than 60,000 metric tons of plastic for recycling through partners, diverting significant volumes of plastic waste from the environment and back into productive use.
Internally, Nestlé Nigeria has also promoted responsible waste management through its Employee Plastics Collection Scheme, which has recovered more than 12,000 kilograms of plastic since 2022, reinforcing employee engagement and encouraging positive behavioural change.
Representing the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Olabimpe Adenaike, the Controller of the Lagos Field Office of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Adeoye Babajide, stated that this initiative reflects a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, community development, and responsible environmental practices. She said the initiative aligns with the Ministry’s mandate to drive climate action and environmental safety.
“We commend Nestlé Nigeria and its partners for advancing environmental awareness, waste reduction, and climate resilience through collaborative action. We encourage all Nigerians to support proper waste management, recycling, and sustainable living as we work together toward a cleaner, greener, and healthier nation,” she said.
