In December 2019, Nestlé, in line with its CEO Mark Schneider’s vision, committed to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.
In Côte d'Ivoire, the food leader is extending this commitment to communities. The company, in partnership with the Ministries of Environment and Sustainable Development and Health and Sanitation, has implemented three plastic waste recovery projects in five municipalities in the District of Abidjan.
The "At the market, I sort my plastic” project instituted in Yopougon, raises awareness among traders on the need to segregate their rubbish. Waste collectors then collect the plastic waste to be recycled.
As a result, in 2020 and 2021, 60 tons of waste have been collected and recycled in collaboration with a local waste management agency, Manage & Paste. This project has also created 15 jobs for collectors and supervisors.
To top this off, on July 13, 2021, Nestlé Côte d'Ivoire has inaugurated walkways built with the plastic waste that was collected and recycled. The walkways cover an area of 200 square meters in the Wassakara market in Yopougon. This action is a realization of Nestlé’s commitment to the environment to:
- Develop packaging for the future that is easily recyclable or reusable
- Play an active role in setting up waste collection and segregation schemes
- Encourage change in consumer behavior through more communication
Nestlé in 2020 also collected a total of 587 tonnes of plastic waste, from its three projects: Plastock in Port Bouet and Yopougon; Independent Collectors in Abobo and Cocody; and "At the market, I sort my plastic ”in Treichville and Yopougon.
In a comment, Rosine Kouassi, Category Manager, Culinary, said, “Nestlé, through its MAGGI brand, wishes to assume leadership at all levels. We have the well-being of consumers and traders at heart and want to help protect the environment. We hope that such projects are emulated by private and public actors all throughout Côte d'Ivoire.”