Guinness Nigeria partners Wecyclers on waste management

Guinness Nigeria Plc, the leading total beverage alcohol company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wecyclers towards the implementation of Guinness’ 4R waste management strategy, covering REDUCTION, REUSE, RECOVERY, and RECYCLING, while addressing increasing local and global concerns around the environmental issues of waste disposal.

According to Peter Ndegwa, managing director/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc, that the partnership with Wecyclers is in line with Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact across its operations and throughout its supply chain.

He added that it is also in line with Nigeria’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy approach under which producers are given a significant responsibility for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products.

“This partnership with Wecyclers is in line with our commitment to reduce our environmental footprint as well as join the global movement to advance sustainable development. Every year, at Guinness, we set ourselves stretched targets that will guide us as we work to reduce our impact on the environment. We also strive to increase our positive social impact by delivering transformational social investments in communities where we operate,” Ndegwa said.

Speaking at the MoU signing, Olawale Adebiyi, Chief Executive Officer, Wecyclers, stated that Wecyclers, aims to build a low-cost waste collection infrastructure while raising general awareness on the importance of recycling for environmental sustainability and social welfare. According to him, ‘’households are given a chance to generate value from their waste and provide a reliable supply of raw material to the local recycling industry.’’ Partnerships with well-meaning organizations such as Guinness Nigeria Plc are a critical part of driving that agenda forward.’’

On her part, Viola Graham-Douglas, corporate relations director, Guinness Nigeria Plc,  stated “In the medium to long-term, Guinness Nigeria has set targets as part of its2020 Sustainability & Responsibility commitments, comprising three key pillars: Leadership in Alcohol in Society, Building Thriving Communities and Reducing our Environmental Impact. Delivering on these goals is an integral part of our long-term business strategy and our commitment to making a real difference in communities where Guinness Nigeria operates,”

She further stated that Guinness has developed a sustainability strategy that will help the company reduce its environmental impact while increasing positive social impact in the society and the partnership will help achieve such objectives.

Wecyclers, a for-profit social enterprise that promotes environmental sustainability, socioeconomic development, and community health, provides convenient recycling services in densely populated urban neighborhoods, with services that include the collection of waste products, such as, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), cans, bottles and other small formats from different locations across Lagos, thereby reducing the chances of them ending up as waste in the open environment.

Guinness Nigeria Plc plans to run this pilot successfully in Lagos and then extend the initiative to other states in Nigeria within the next two years.

Report courtesy Afolabi Adesola, a contributor to businessamlive.com