By Stella Ntia
Due to human activities, particularly the increase in carbon footprint, the global temperature has increased by approximately 1.1 degree Celsius since the 19th century. Environmental sustainability has been a suggestion globally, to the rising environmental degradation. This practice involves reducing activities that cause climate change and encourages environmental hazards, promoting farming practices that minimize environmental impact, and overall, using natural resources efficiently and minimizing waste.
Environmental sustainability as a practice, has so many benefits as It encourages healthy living, individually and as a society.
The environment is one’s place to live. It encompasses both living and non-living things and provides essential sources for human survival and the continuity of day to day life activities. When the environment is disrupted it leads to environmental degradation.
Some of the ways this can happen is through emissions of GHG, which could lead to climate change, plastic waste pollution and deforestation. Deforestation is accelerating biodiversity loss and disrupting our ecosystems. On the other hand, pollution, both air and water, is poisoning our environment, harming human health, and endangering countless species. Plastic pollution in particular, is one of the major causes of flooding in Nigeria and all these stated above lead to long term degradation impacting the future generations negatively.
As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and resource depletion, corporations are increasingly expected to play a vital role in mitigating these issues. Nestlé, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, has been at the forefront of environmental sustainability efforts in Nigeria. This feature story delves into Nestlé’s impact on environmental sustainability in Nigeria, highlighting initiatives, successes, and challenges.
Nestlé Nigeria has in many ways aided the sustainability of the environment by reducing emissions from their factories which could cause climate change or disrupt the natural ecosystem
According to https://www.nestle.com/sustainability/climate-change they have achieved at least 5 sustainable development goals which includes aiding affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, life below water, and life on land.
Water Conservation is the practice of using water efficiently and avoiding water wastage, this is one of the crucial areas in environmental sustainability and Nestlé also recognizes the critical importance of water, particularly in Nigeria, where access to clean water is a challenge. To address this, Nestlé has implemented community water projects in rural communities, water-saving technologies which has helped reduce water consumption by 30% in their factories, and a water harvesting practice which involves Nestlé’s Agbara factory collecting and treating rainwater for non-potable purposes.
Nestlé Nigeria has also taken it upon them to educate children on environmental sustainability and climate change. As at in 2022,Not less than 137 children across 5 primary schools in Lagos state have been educated on environmental sustainability.
Enlightenment on environmental sustainability is very key as it helps one to know the importance of playing a role individually in keeping the environment habitable and being better stewards of the planet even from a tender age.
Nestlé’s commitment to sustainability dates back to 1990, when the company established its first environmental policy. In Nigeria, Nestlé has operated for over 60 years, employing thousands and contributing significantly to the country’s economy. The company’s sustainability efforts focus on three pillars: water, waste, and energy.
Research shows that Nigeria generates more than 32 million tons of waste per year with Lagos alone producing about 10,000 metric tons of waste daily. Addressing this issue requires inculcating the right habits in all and Nestlé Nigeria has shown by their actions, that there is no better place to start than from within.
In 2022, Nestlé Nigeria launched her employee plastics collection scheme, which is a combative activity towards plastic pollution in our environment. Through this scheme, employees have been able to inculcate the habit of sorting wastes at source and recycling for sustainable environmental management.
In 2023, Nestlé Nigeria’s plastics collection scheme successfully anchored the proper management of over 6,660kg of solid waste and 79kg of recyclables collected across all chosen locations, ensuring that they do not end up back in the environment.
Having a strong commitment to help protect and restore the environment and to ensure a waste-free future, the company is implementing many initiatives promoting Environmental Sustainability. This is starting from the company’s employees and extending to the communities closest to its operations and to a wider audience across Nigeria.
Despite progress, Nestlé faces challenges which include Inadequate waste management infrastructure, which hinders recycling efforts.
Also, Nigeria’s environmental regulations are evolving, requiring adaptability, and changing consumer behavior remains a significant challenge. To address these challenges, Nestlé has Invested in research and development yielding innovative solutions for environmental sustainability. Nestlé’s collaboration with government, NGO’s and communities has also helped in combating this challenges faced. In addition to that, they have also set ambitious targets, like aiming to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2025.
In conclusion, Nestlé Nigeria has taken to aiding environmental sustainability but it doesn’t stop there. We as individuals and inhabitants of the planet should also play our individual roles in creating a healthier environment for each of us to live in.
Also every other corporation should imbibe this cleaning culture that Nestlé Nigeria has incorporated. As these corporations are also major contributors to environmental impact. It’s advisable that they adopt sustainable practices and reduce their carbon footprint in unison with Nestlé Nigeria. Through innovative initiatives, partnerships, and community engagement, Nestlé has made significant strides in reducing its environmental footprint. Which includes minimizing waste, and promoting responsible consumption. By investing in eco-friendly technologies and innovative solutions, corporations can drive positive change and contribute to a more sustainable future.
