Tetra Pak East Africa, in collaboration with the Packaging Producer Responsibility Organization (PAKPRO), has launched a groundbreaking initiative to recover used beverage cartons in East Africa. According to a series of linkedin posts by PACKPRO, the announcement was made during a kick-start project aimed at addressing environmental concerns related to plastic packaging.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Jonathan Kinisu, Managing Director of Tetra Pak East Africa, emphasized their commitment to sustainable waste management practices, stating, “In alignment with Extended Producer Responsibility regulations and the Waste Management Act, we are taking a lead role in supporting the collection and recycling value chain.”
In a parallel event at COP28 UAE, PAKPRO organized a side event on “Mitigating Climate Change through Sustainable Plastic Packaging.” The panel discussion featured key figures such as Faith Ngige, Coordinator at Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Climate Business Information Network Kenya (CBIN-K), and Josephine Wawira, Communication Lead at Sustainable Inclusive Business Kenya (SIB).
Faith Ngige highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts, stating, “Facilitating collaboration among industries, governments, NGOs, and consumers is crucial for collectively addressing the challenges of sustainable plastic packaging. The vision for sustainable waste management cannot be realized by a single organization or entity; it necessitates joint efforts and cooperation.”
Josephine Wawira underscored the need for concerted action, saying, “We need to work together to harmonize on a policy perspective, industry awareness, consumer education, and regulatory action plan to ensure that we get it right.”
The side event provided a platform to discuss the challenges and opportunities in mitigating climate change through sustainable plastic packaging. The panelists stressed the importance of a shared vision and collaborative strategies to achieve tangible results.
The Tetra Pak and PAKPRO initiative aims to recover 1,500 metric tonnes of used beverage cartons, contributing to 30% of the produced liquid board packaging in the country. PAKPRO’s side event at COP28 added depth to the discussion, bringing together industry experts to explore effective ways of addressing climate change through sustainable practices in the packaging sector.