We are focused on a data-driven, result-based approach to Sustainability, Circular Economy – Onyemelukwe

In this interview with the Director of Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability at coca cola nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelkwe, he spoke about the company’s integrated Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities that position sustainability at the core of its operations. He also highlighted the company’s steps through a joint sustainability program implemented in 2022:

How would you rate the importance of sustainability for Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited?

As a company, sustainability is a core aspect of our evolving global strategy. The Coca-Cola system in Nigeria, including Coca-Cola Nigeria, Chi Limited, and its bottling partner, the Nigerian Bottling Company, has environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities integrated into its strategy.

In 2021, our company is taking steps to emerge stronger from the pandemic and position itself to continue to grow. We are focused on creating a portfolio of beverage brands that people love while building a more sustainable future for our business and our planet.

We prioritize sustainability and continually focus on areas where we can have a measurable and positive impact on the communities we serve around the world as a Company that truly believes in making a difference in the communities we serve. Our ESG initiatives are interconnected, and so are the solutions we support. These solutions range from packaging waste management to water security and leadership, climate change, and finally, the economic empowerment of women and youth, ensuring the well-being of people and communities.

In implementing these solutions, we seek greater impact by developing collective action, which is done in partnership between industry, government, and society to create shared opportunities. We are conscious of reducing our company’s environmental impact, so we have announced a number of commitments and targets.

I will talk about two main focus areas: water leadership and our world without waste commitment. Our Water Security 2030 Strategy focuses on improving water security through a context-based approach to improving water, advocacy for smart water policies and responsible water use in all operations and supply chains while our World Without WasteStrategy makes 100% of our packaging recyclable by 2025, enabling 100% recovery for every bottle sold by 2030 and using at least 50% recycled content in packaging by 2030.

You note that a key component of Coca-Cola’s global strategy is sustainability. How will it affect operations in Nigeria and across West Africa?

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) priorities continue to be embedded in our business and the way we work. This has resulted in a significant positive impact on the value chain and the people we serve in Nigeria and the African continent.

Water is a top business priority. It is the main ingredient in the products we make and is important for the agricultural products we use. Together with our bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company, we have helped build healthy and productive communities through over 105 different projects, providing clean water access to over 1.2 million people over the past 10 years.

Access to clean water is essential for health, helps save lives, drives economic growth, helps children go to school, and improves opportunities for women and girls.

We are proud of the progress we have made and will continue to make in providing proper sanitation, which reduces the risk of disease and ensures dignity, privacy, and safety for all, especially vulnerable women and children.

We also continue to make meaningful progress on our World Without Waste packaging initiative. We continue to invest in partnerships with innovators and NGOs like Growing Business Foundation (GBF), Nigeria Climate Innovation Center (NCIC), SWEEP Foundation, FABE Foundation, and Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), among others in Nigeria.

We have pioneered several innovations, such as switching from green bottles to clear bottles for beautiful PET sprite bottles, light weight packaging to reduce the plastic footprint, and won the industry’s main goal to increase the use of reusable packaging.

Over the past five years, the Coca-Cola System and its philanthropic arm, The Coca-Cola Foundation, have provided more than $6 million to various NGO partners and social enterprises to promote recycling initiatives, water and sanitation programs, and economic empowerment projects. in various communities, including disaster relief.

We provided more than 8,000 households with relief materials due to the recent flood disaster in Nigeria. Through this, rice and cassava seeds were also provided to approximately 2,800 small farmers, 80% of whom were women, to support and restore their livelihoods after the disaster.

Our bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company, also leads unsustainable manufacturing by investing in solutions that contribute to progress in the focus areas of energy use reduction, water use reduction, emission reduction, and waste reduction. This results in 50 percent of manufacturing plants being partially powered by solar energy, with photovoltaic cells delivering up to 3,640 kilowatts of peak power output (KWp) to the plant.

Water and packaging waste risks linked to climate change. We reduce our carbon footprint through a connected and holistic approach to our ESG priorities. Our vision is for packaging to be reused and recycled as part of a circular economy, which means a world with lower carbon emissions and lower climate impact.

These investments are made to prevent environmental degradation and promote industrial collaboration among all players in the waste management value chain, promote economic prosperity, and improve water security for communities in the country.

What is this grant that you are using, what projects are they supporting, and how have these projects affected waste management in Nigeria so far?

We are excited for the country that Coca-Cola has been a catalyst in galvanizing recycling and waste value chain in Nigeria. This leadership dates back to 2005 when we supported setting up the first recycling company in Nigeria. Since then, a lot of work and investment has gone into the development of small and medium scale collectors and aggregators to support the new but promising recycling sector that can drive foreign direct investment and create millions of jobs.

Coca-Cola, in partnership with these NGOs, has created signature, award-winning, and impactful projects that continue to create shared opportunities in diverse communities. Some include RESWAYE by Medic, Recycle pays by African Clean up Initiative, Waste in the City by SWEEP Foundation, Tidy Nigeria by FABE Foundation, Trash to Cash by WASTE Africa, REVIVE and Project DORI by Recycle Points, Waste to Wealth by Do Good Foundation , Empowering Collectors Initiative by the Growing Business Foundation and CYLEPLAST by the Nigerian Center for Climate Innovation,

To date, more than 4 billion plastic bottles have been removed from the environment, creating more than 6,000 jobs for women and youth. We are also supporting the scaling up and setting up of 23 small to medium sized collectors and aggregators, which will create thousands of jobs in their neighbourhood.

Through industry collective action, Coca-Cola led the formation of the Food and Beverage Alliance (FBRA). A coalition of progressive companies united by a shared concern for the environment. The coalition has grown from a group of four to 30 large companies committed to building a sustainable recycling economy for food and beverage packaging waste. FBRA and its members have been able to shape public policies and actions that support the circular economy and the evolution of waste management in Nigeria. Although progress has been made, we know there is still much more to be done. FBRA is committed to doing the work it needs to do to create a more sustainable planet for everyone.

Our World Without Waste packaging goal requires collective action in partnership with various stakeholders at the global, regional, and local levels. Together with our bottling partners, we will continue to work

· government agencies and community organizations to strengthen recycling infrastructure and boost collection rates.

· Customers, friends, and industry associations to shape public policies and actions that support the circular economy

· Nonprofits and NGOs to engage civil society in ways to tackle pollution

· Suppliers, startups, and R&D partners to deliver sustainable packaging innovations that reduce waste and reduce our environmental impact – one bottle at a time.

With environmental activists and governments around the world increasing pressure on businesses to reduce the environmental impact of their operations, how do you evaluate your company’s efforts to reduce the negative environmental impact of your operations?

We constantly evaluate and implement ESG priorities at the heart of our business operations to ensure that we grow in the right and sustainable way. We continuously conduct comprehensive reviews of priority issues in collaboration with cross-functional internal teams and external stakeholders. These stakeholders have expertise in various issues and sectors, and include NGOs, academics, some business partners, suppliers, customers, and others.

In 2021, we are reviewing the assessment to determine if any priority issues have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzing our priority issues regularly ensures that we consider the changing social, environmental, and economic context as we continue to grow our business.

I would say that our journey has brought significant progress, and we are on track to reduce the negative environmental impact of our operations as we expand our business.

Our backbone is a global system of strong partnerships with bottlers, suppliers, customers, and consumers, supported by advanced technology. Our company’s goal is to revitalize the world and make a difference. Together, we will continue to use our global presence and leadership to build a more sustainable future for our business and our planet.