Nestlé Cares volunteers participating in a community cleanup exercise at Oke-Arin Market, Lagos, as part of Nestlé Nigeria’s nationwide CSR initiative to combat plastic pollution.
Nestlé Nigeria has completed its sixth annual nationwide cleanup and community sensitisation campaign, reaffirming its dedication to a waste-free Nigeria.
In partnership with the African Clean-Up Initiative and local authorities, Nestlé mobilised over 500 employee volunteers through its Nestlé Cares initiative.
This year’s campaign reached 11 major cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan, urban centres significantly impacted by plastic waste pollution.
Nestlé’s cleanup teams collected over 5,600 kilograms of solid waste along with an additional 379.2 kilograms of recyclable materials from Nigeria’s streets and marketplaces.
This initiative focused on high-footfall locations such as Oke-Arin Market in Lagos, Utako Market in Abuja, and Abubakar Rimi Market in Kano, areas chosen due to their environmental vulnerability and significance to the community.
This campaign goes beyond merely picking up litter; it aims to inspire meaningful change. It supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
By engaging local communities and employees, Nestlé is fostering behaviour change, building environmental awareness, and highlighting the critical role of corporate social investment (CSI) in addressing Nigeria’s environmental challenges.
A key component of Nestlé’s environmental strategy is its Employee Plastics Collection Scheme, launched in 2022. This internal recycling program has successfully diverted 6,000 kilograms of plastic waste from landfills. Employees across various offices and factories are actively involved, demonstrating that CSR can start from within the organisation.
In collaboration with partners such as the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, Wecyclers, Alef Recycling, and other local eco-entrepreneurs, Nestlé’s initiative promotes a circular economy, a sustainable model where waste is reused rather than discarded.
Since 2019, these collective efforts have resulted in the removal of over 61,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste from the Nigerian environment.
During the activation event in Lagos, Nestlé Nigeria’s Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability spoke about how the campaign aligns with the 2025 theme of World Environment Day: “Curbing Plastic Pollution.” She emphasised that this campaign is part of a larger goal to achieve a waste-free future, highlighting the importance of partnerships and community action.
The founder of the African Clean-Up Initiative reaffirmed that the campaign is not a one-off event, but rather a transformative movement. He stressed the vital role of every participant, as educators, change agents, and champions of the environment.
Environmental degradation and plastic pollution pose urgent national challenges in Nigeria. According to the World Bank, the country generates over 32 million tonnes of waste annually, with more than 2.5 million tonnes of plastic leaking into the environment each year. Without action, these issues threaten food systems, public health, and economic stability.
With over 60 years of presence in Nigeria, Nestlé continues to set a high standard for corporate sustainability. Their approach transcends philanthropy; it integrates sustainability into the core of their business strategy, ensuring that economic growth is in harmony with environmental protection and social advancement.
As Nigeria aspires to a cleaner, more sustainable future, Nestlé’s model serves as a blueprint for how companies can effectively balance profit with purpose, leading national change through CSR initiatives.