Leading consumer packaged goods company and member of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd., has called on stakeholders in the manufacturing industry to embrace sustainable manufacturing across their operations as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change in Nigeria.
Managing Director of the company, Matthieu Seguin made the call during the 3rd edition of the annual NBC Stakeholders Forum with the theme: “Combating Climate Change Through Resource Efficiency,”.
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.
In his address, Seguin said that the event was intended to among other things, explore 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,” he said. “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”.
Speaking further, he said, “Our commitment to the environment is total, however, we recognise that the goals we have set for ourselves are by no means easy”.
He noted that it was necessary for all stakeholders to come on this journey to make the desired change that will positively impact the environment and make a difference.
On his part, the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi 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.
The minister who was represented by the Director General of the National Council on Climate Change, Dr Salisu Dahiru said that 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,” he said. “This is a big plus for the company and I believe there are opportunities for other companies and industrial magnates to tow this line,”.
This year, the forum provided a platform for key stakeholders to broaden climate mitigation initiatives beyond plastic waste recovery, energy efficiency and transition to renewables, and water stewardship, with a focus on exploring exciting new opportunities to reduce global biodiversity loss, water stress and global greenhouse gas emissions through material efficiency.
Story was adapted from the Sun.
