To address waste management issues, the Coca-Cola System in Nigeria, which consists of Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and its approved bottler, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), has opened a new packaging collection hub in Lagos.
Coca-Cola CEO, Zoran Bogdanovic highlighted the company’s dedication to sustainability during his remarks at the inauguration, saying that the facility’s goal is to cut waste by gathering and recycling packaging materials all throughout Nigeria. The hub, which can process up to 13,000 metric tons of plastic bottles a year, is a major addition to the nation’s infrastructure for recycling plastics, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He emphasized that this investment would strengthen Coca-Cola’s global environmental goals, benefit local communities, and generate jobs.
Continuing, he had this to say: “This initiative aligns with our ambition to reduce packaging waste and emissions by increasing the use of recycled materials,” stating that Coca-Cola wants to increase the usage of recycled plastic to 35% worldwide and add 35–40% recycled material to its plastic, glass, and aluminium packaging.
According to Luisa Ortega, president of Coca-Cola’s Africa Operating Unit, the company has played a significant role in Nigerian communities for almost 75 years. She underlined Coca-Cola’s dedication to strengthening collection and recycling initiatives through regional and international collaborations.
She revealed: “In addition to driving sustainability within the Coca-Cola System, this hub will serve as a key solution for plastic waste management.
“It will facilitate PET collection, process materials into clean PET bales, and support recycled polyethylene (rPET) production through third-party partnerships,” she added.
BrandSpur national news stories report that the government has also endorsed the idea.
The centre represents a significant step toward sustainability, economic growth, and environmental responsibility, according to Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Trade and Investment. She commended Coca-Cola’s investment, saying it matched President Bola Tinubu’s goal of a successful and self-sufficient Nigeria.
Through Special Adviser on Circular Economy Mrs Titilayo Oshodi, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, praised NBC for putting sustainability ahead of profit. He said that by acting as a central collection, sorting, and recycling hub, the facility would be instrumental in lowering plastic pollution.
However, the Coca-Cola System has contributed more than US$1.5 billion to Nigeria’s economy over the past ten years, promoting sustainability, empowering communities, and spurring growth.
