In commemoration of this year’s World Environment Day, leading consumer packaged goods company and strategic bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company in Nigeria, Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd., (NBC), has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental stewardship by organising beach cleaning and tree planting activities to create awareness on the importance of safeguarding the earth’s finite resources.
The company leveraged its employee volunteer scheme to launch a tree planting campaign aimed at addressing the climate change crisis and driving awareness on the importance of trees to the environment.
In Lagos, the exercise held at Gbara Community Senior Secondary School in collaboration with key partners, including Hope for Life Initiative, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and the Ministry of Environment.
Commenting on the initiative, Managing Director of NBC, Matthieu Seguin, said, “Over the years, Africa’s forest cover has seen a steady decline, which invariably threatens the ability of its ecosystems to withstand climate change.”
“Our tree planting campaign is not only a direct response to this problem, but also a platform to galvanise corporate participation in promoting interventions that support the sustainability of our planet,” added Seguin.
According to Matthieu, this initiative complements NBC’s ambitious commitment to achieving net zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2040.
The company also organised a beach cleaning exercise in conjunction with its growth partners, Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd and MEDIC, a non-governmental organisation, with a total of 267 participating employees drawn from its expansive pool of volunteers.
Seguin, who was represented by Ekuma Eze, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, described the event as part of NBC’s Mission 2025 Commitments to decisively address the challenge posed by environmental pollution.
He explained, “As leading manufacturers, we recognise our obligation to contribute towards ensuring a safer and healthier environment and preserving the future for the generations to come. This cleanup exercise not only reflects our commitment to this objective but is also a great opportunity to drive progress in our immediate communities and beyond.”
The event culminated in the launch of a recycling bank at the Elegushi Beach constructed by NBC. This is in line with the commitment by the Company to bring recycling closer to the communities, while driving economic inclusion of women. Being a major convergence point for fun seekers, the recycling bank is expected to raise awareness in the community on responsible disposal of wastes, especially plastics, while empowering vulnerable women in the community economically.
Ibrahim Odumboni, Managing Director of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) commended NBC for its efforts, noting that these initiatives would go a long way to reduce the impact of environmental hazards plaguing the coastal community.