By Merit Ibe
Leading consumer packaged goods company and member of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd., has urged stakeholders in the manufacturing sector to embrace sustainable manufacturing across their operations as a tool to mitigate the impact of climate change in Nigeria.
Managing Director of the company, Matthieu Seguin, who spoke at the 3rd edition of the annual NBC Stakeholders Forum themed “Combating Climate Change Through Resource Efficiency,” held recently, explained that the event was aimed at exploring opportunities to co-create sustainable solutions to the challenges of climate change.
“We recently unveiled a roadmap to renewable energy transition in our manufacturing operations. This move is coming on the heels of a series of steady investments made by our company towards sustainable manufacturing to achieve our set target of net zero emissions by the year 2040.
“Our commitment to the environment is total. However, we recognise that the goals we have set for ourselves are by no means easy. We therefore need all our stakeholders on board with us on this journey to make the desired change that will positively impact the environment and make a difference,” Seguin added.
Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, who was represented by Dr. Salisu Dahiru, Director General of the National Council on Climate Change, commended the contributions of the Coca-Cola System towards environmental sustainability, particularly its ambitious targets to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its operations by the year 2040.
“Interestingly, this target is 10 years ahead of several others, including that of the Federal Government of Nigeria. For Nigeria, the target for net zero is to be achieved by 2060 and for NBC to come up with these ambitious targets means a lot of investment and changes in its technology, approach and resource utilisation. This is a big plus for the company and I believe there are opportunities for other companies and industrial magnates to tow this line,” he said.
In his keynote address, Dr Newton Jibunoh, Founder of Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE) lauded NBC for taking decisive actions to address the challenge of climate change through several interventions.
Dr. Jibunoh, popularly known as the desert warrior, noted that collaboration among relevant stakeholders is crucial to mitigating the impact of climate change in the country.
“I must commend NBC for hosting this stakeholder’s forum at a time when half of the global community is experiencing the debilitating impact of climate change. I urge that we must continue to collaborate and make efforts, no matter how little, to address this issue. We must all start taking the needed actions today.”
The annual NBC Stakeholders’ Forum is designed as a platform for robust and authentic conversations between Nigerian Bottling Company and its valued stakeholders, attracting participants from Regulatory Agencies, relevant MDAs from both the federal and state governments, the diplomatic community, the Academia, Industry Associations, NGOs, consumers, suppliers, and other trade partners. Conceived as part of NBC’s contribution to national development as a responsible organization, the event serves as a platform for robust discourse, exploration of new ideas and knowledge sharing on some of the most important issues facing businesses and communities where it operates.
This year, the Forum focused on exploring exciting new opportunities to reduce global biodiversity loss, water stress and global greenhouse gas emissions through material efficiency. The event also provided a platform for key stakeholders to broaden climate mitigation initiatives beyond plastic waste recovery, energy efficiency and transition to renewables, and water stewardship.