Polaris steps up beach clean-up campaign to deepen environment sustainability

Rasheed Bolarinwa

Daily, millions of tonnes of plastic bottles and polythenes improperly disposed after their contents are consumed end up in drainages, water channels, landfills and oceans. These wastes harm wildlife, pollute air and water, and exacerbate climate change challenges such as flooding and even account for increase in health risks including cancer.

Hence, there have been increasing and concerted efforts to raise local and global awareness and accentuate collective action at improving responsible human behaviour towards the environment, as well as mitigating the adverse impact of plastic pollution on humans, wildlife and the larger ecosystem.

In Nigeria, Polaris Bank, a leading digital retail bank in the country, in furtherance of its commitment to environmental sustainability as one of the core pillars of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) investment, recently held its maiden ‘Beach Clean-up Initiative’ in Lagos.

In line with the theme for the 2023 World Environment Day, ‘Solutions to plastic pollution’, top executives and staff of Polaris Bank and environmental activists were out at the Elegushi Beach in Lekki, Lagos to clean up the beach by removing plastic wastes and other pollutants on the beach corridors. Executed in collaboration with an environment-focused Non-Government Organisation, Africa Clean-Up Initiative (ACI), the exercise also received commendations from across a broad spectrum of stakeholders.

As part of events to commemorate this year’s WED on June 5, Polaris Bank had unequivocally restated its commitment to play significant role in ensuring a clean, safe, and hygienic environment.

It is well-documented that the finance outlet has concentiously taken proactive measures to address challenges of waste management and plastic pollution, thus demonstrating support for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles (NSBPs) and United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI’s) Principles of Responsible Banking.

“In managing the environmental impact of its activities, Polaris Bank has made significant efforts to reduce carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. Through the use of solar energy to power security lights, some ATMs, and business locations, as well as implementing automated systems and digital alternatives to paper output, the bank actively mitigates waste generation and reduces its carbon footprint.

“To further minimise its carbon footprint, Polaris Bank has streamlined its vehicle fleet, while most meetings and engagements are held virtually. By prioritising sustainable energy sources and expanding its network of ATMs, including prestigious off-site locations, the bank ensures convenient and eco-friendly access to banking services,” the bank said in a statement marking World Environmental Day last June.

Speaking during the Beach Clean-up campaign at the Elegushi Beach, Polaris Bank’s Chief, Talent and Culture Officer, Oyiza Salu, said the initiative was in demonstration of the bank’s thoroughness on the safety of the environment, as well as to strengthen staff bonding.

“Polaris Bank has a sustainability agenda and we are following closely on delivery of same. Ensuring that we save the ocean is an initiative that the bank is partnering with relevant NGOs and other stakeholders to ensure that we live up to our value of sustainability because we are here today and we would be here tomorrow, as an enterprise. We want to leave a better life and world behind. Most importantly for us, it is team building, bonding, and connecting as individuals in the organization. As we work on driving the culture of inclusivity, and delivery on promise to customers, it is also important that we come together as a team to add value to our communities,” she said.

Salu called for improved awareness of environmental responsibilities among Nigerians, and said they must be deliberate in their disposition to maintaining a healthy environment.

She stated, “There has to be a lot of awareness, individual responsibilities, behaviourial change not just as a nation but as individuals. We owe it to generation to come that they meet a world they can live and live comfortably in.”

Also speaking, the Head, Sustainability and Customer Protection of the Bank, Yemi Akinrelere said the Bank’s Beach Clean-up initiative was its way of giving back to the environment.

“The Polaris Beach Clean-Up initiative is what we do in the form of giving back to our environment where we operate and also make our environment clean. The record shows that over 400 million tonnes of plastic is being generated as waste worldwide. Out of which 2.5 million is being generated in Nigeria annually. 15 per cent of waste generated in Lagos State is plastic.

“The theme for World Environmental Day 2023 is the solution to plastic pollution. How do we provide this solution? Speaking to people, talking about it in our air-conditioned offices is not just enough. So we decided to go out there and showcase what we need to do. Our ocean needs to be saved, hence our ‘save our ocean’ slogan for this clean-up exercise,” she said.

Continuing, Akinrelere stated: “That is why we came out today as employees of Polaris Bank to go to the communities where we operate to clean the beach and save our ocean from pollutants. And members of the communities were happy seeing us do this and I’m sure they must have learnt the importance of proper disposal of their wastes. And this won’t just be a one-off thing. We’ll hold similar exercises in other communities to ensure that we drive home our message of saving our environment to a wider audience.”

She added that Polaris Bank was also exploring other environmental interventions to increase the bank’s impact footprint on the environment.

“Apart from beaches, there are other environmental issues that we’ll deal with. The Polaris Bank brand tries as much as possible to ensure that we reduce our diesel use. We make use of alternate energy sources such as solar to power our offices and ATMs to reduce burning fossil fuel and its impact on the environment which in the long run causes climate change issues. In the nearest future, we’ll partner organisations like Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) for more positive and impactful environmental interventions,” she enthused.

The Founder/CEO of Africa Clean-up Initiative, the NGO Partner of Polaris Bank, Dr. Alexander Akhigbe, applauded the collaboration and partnership with the bank, while assuring that both parties would continue to collaborate on initiatives that promote a more sustainable environment.

“We are working together with Polaris Bank to make a positive impact on marine life and ecosystems thereby fostering a cleaner and more sustainable environment for all,” he stated.

The bank’s dedication to environmental sustainability is a key component of its broader vision to create a positive and lasting impact on society. As part of the commemoration of the 2023 World Environment Day, the Bank has established dedicated plastic collection hubs across its branches in Lagos. These hubs serve as convenient drop-off points for responsible disposal of plastic waste for onward recycling, while empowering individuals and communities to actively participate in reducing plastic pollution.

At Polaris Bank, there is the recognition that the effective management of the environment is a collective responsibility and as a member of the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principle Steering Committee and founding member of United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP) FI.