Coke, Diageo, Nestle, Unilever Form Plastics Recycling Alliance in Africa

The Coca-Cola Company, Diageo, Nestle, and Unilever — have launched the Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance, which aims to “turn the current challenge of plastic waste in Sub Saharan Africa into an opportunity to create jobs and commercial activity by improving the collection and recycling of plastics.” The alliance was established to boost public-private partnerships and industry collaboration, encourage knowledge sharing and innovation, and accelerate the development and financing of critical waste management infrastructure and systems.

The announcement came at the recent CEO Africa Forum in Kigali, Rwanda. The Alliance will facilitate and support their local subsidiaries to engage proactively in market level public private partnerships, industry collaboration and alliances – Share knowledge, encourage innovation and collaborate on technical and other solutions appropriate for Sub-Saharan Africa as well as participate in local pilot initiatives.

It will also engage with the investment community, policy makers and others to accelerate the development and financing of the necessary waste management infrastructure and systems in Africa. An official note said: “Plastics will remain an important packaging material if we are to give African consumers the safe and affordable products they need. However, we need to ensure that used packaging does not end up as litter.”