Reducing plastic pollution in Nigeria, SEDI calls on top plastic polluting companies to redesign their plastic cans

The Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) has called on the managements of  top plastic polluting companies to reveal, reduce and redesign their plastic cans as part of their extended producer responsibility and catalyzing zero waste initiatives. This to SEDI, would largely help to reduce plastics in Nigeria and its deleterious effect on human health and environment.

This call was contained in a press statement released by SEDI's Communication department following the organisation's 2024 plastic brand audit exercise carried out in January, 2024.

According to the statement, "plastics were collected out door in an estate of 1000 hectares of land housing offices, houses, religious houses (Churches and mosques), schools and commercial centres. The volunteers were recruited and trained by SEDI staff following BFFP training guide. Training videos were  utilized and emphasis was laid on health and safety in the plastic collection process. 

"Detailed planning and coordination meetings were held. During the designated period, volunteers  collected plastics which were later sorted and counted. Photographs were taken and proceedings of the event were recorded for social media and the press.

"The objective of the plastic brand audit was to reveal the top polluting companies trashing our communities with their single-use plastic waste.

"The most common plastic items were: plastic PET bottles and bottle caps. The most common types of plastic were: PET and HDPE. The top polluting companies, whose brands were found on the most plastic waste, were: Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Suntory Beverage and foods, and CWAY Foods and Beverages. The plastic brand audit found Cocacola and Pepsi to be the top plastic polluters in the exercise", the statement posited.