In a significant move to combat plastic pollution, Nestlé Nigeria has launched a major multi-stakeholder coalition aimed at scaling up waste management and driving the circular economy across the country.
The initiative, unveiled in commemoration of World Environment Day 2026, signals a strategic shift for the consumer goods giant from standalone corporate interventions to a coordinated, systems-led approach.
According to a statement signed by the company’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Toju Egbebi, the launch of the programme marks the company’s seventh consecutive year of environmental stewardship, transitioning from awareness campaigns to a systems-led approach involving government, regulators, industry players, recyclers, and development partners.
The company said the environmental programme is set to be rolled out across 12 locations nationwide, focusing on community sensitisation and direct clean-up activities. According to the company, the coalition’s core objectives are to reduce waste leakage into the environment, strengthen existing waste collection systems, and promote responsible waste management practices to foster cleaner public spaces.
Victoria Uwadoka, Lead for Corporate Communications, Corporate Affairs, and Sustainability at Nestlé Nigeria, emphasised the necessity of a unified value chain during the launch.
“Waste management outcomes improve when intervention shifts from awareness alone to shared accountability across the value chain,” Uwadoka stated. “This coalition is designed to connect policy, infrastructure, community action, and market-based recovery systems in a way that can deliver more durable environmental results.”
The launch builds on Nestlé’s six-year history of nationwide clean-up campaigns. Since 2019, the company’s collaborative efforts with recovery partners—including Chanja Datti, Wecyclers, and MECOM—have successfully diverted more than 60,000 metric tons of plastic waste from the environment and channeled it back into productive recycling streams.
Internally, the company has cultivated an eco-conscious corporate culture through its Employee Plastics Collection Scheme. Launched in 2022, the internal initiative has seen Nestlé staff recover over 12,000 kilogrammes of plastic, driving behavioral change from within the organisation.
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 on board.
Development partners include the Swiss Consulate and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The African Clean-Up Initiative will implement the programme, with News Central serving as strategic media partner.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Environment, who was represented by Mrs. Olabimpe Adenaike (Controller of the Lagos Field Office), applauded the initiative, saying it aligns with the government’s environmental safety mandates.
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“This initiative reflects a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, community development, and responsible environmental practices,” Adenaike stated, while urging all citizens to adopt sustainable living habits.
“We commend Nestlé Nigeria and its partners for advancing environmental awareness, waste reduction, and climate resilience through collaborative action,” she added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X