The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) recently partnered to organize a seminar in Abuja, aimed at raising awareness of the Promoting Sustainable Plastic Value Chains Through Circular Economy Practices for Recyclers Project.
The seminar, attended by relevant stakeholders across the plastic value chain in Abuja and other northern states of Nigeria, sought to promote circular economy principles and practices to ensure resource-efficient production for plastic value chains in Nigeria.
The problem of plastic pollution has been growing with the increase in the use of plastics, necessitating the application of measures to mitigate the problem by ensuring a circular economy.
According to Nishio Nahomi, the UNIDO Project Manager, the Promoting Sustainable Plastic Value Chains Through Circular Economy Practices for Recyclers project is crucial for Nigeria’s inclusive and sustainable industrial development, as it aims to reduce the leakage of plastics into the environment.
During the seminar, participants engaged in technical sessions on topics such as Resource Efficiency, Cleaner Production, Circular Economy, and Plastic Packaging.
Mr. Chukwudi Nwabuisiaku, Assistant Director, Plastics Waste Control at National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), emphasized the need to adopt circularity within the plastic value chain. He reassured participants of NESREA’s unwavering support for the success of the project.
Participants expressed their appreciation for the training, and representatives of member companies, Plastic Waste Value Players (Waste pickers, Collectors, Aggregators, Recyclers, and Off-takers), also attended the seminar.
A representative of Boskel Nigeria Limited thanked FBRA for the initiative and expressed eagerness to incorporate the new learnings into their business.
Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Lead for Nestlé Nigeria Plc, a founding member company of FBRA, thanked everyone present and encouraged participants to strive towards achieving the end goal of plastic circularity.
She also expressed FBRA’s willingness to continue providing support needed to transition to a circular economy for plastics in Nigeria.