NBC champions circular economy at Nigerian Economic Summit

Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd., a leading consumer packaged goods company and a member of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Beverage Company (CCHBC), reaffirmed its leadership in promoting circularity and environmental sustainability by sponsoring an interactive session at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit held in Abuja.

The session, themed “Driving Industrialisation Through Circular PET Packaging: Unlocking Nigeria’s Green Economy,” brought together senior government officials, regulators, and industry leaders to discuss how circular practices can accelerate industrial growth, create jobs, and facilitate Nigeria’s transition to a green economy.

Delivering the keynote address, Senator John Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, praised the Coca-Cola System for its ongoing leadership in recycling and packaging recovery. He described the company’s efforts as a model for how private sector innovation can complement government action in advancing sustainability.

“In January this year, I visited the Nigerian Bottling Company’s packaging waste collection hub in Apapa,” the Minister stated. “That initiative, along with efforts like the National Automotive Design and Development Council’s End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation, reflects our commitment to redefining our industrial landscape. Here, manufacturing and sustainability intersect, transforming industry from mere output to impactful engagement.”

He emphasised the government’s efforts to create frameworks that support the recycling and green manufacturing sectors.

“The 20th-century model of produce, consume, and discard has reached its end,” he remarked. “The circular economy presents a new path where what was once deemed waste is transformed into opportunities, turning developmental challenges into engines for new industries.”

Following the keynote address, the session included a fireside chat with the Minister and a panel discussion featuring thought leaders and policymakers. Panel members included Hon. Shehu Wada Sagagi, Commissioner, Ministry for Commerce & Investment, Kano State; Engr. (Dr.) Bahijjahtu Abubakar, FNSE, Director, Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Federal Ministry of Environment; Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, CEO, National Bureau of Statistics (represented by Ms. Christie Umuna, Head of the Energy and Environment Statistics Division); and Mr. Basheer Abdulkadri, Director of Technical Services, Federal Ministry of Finance, who was represented by Musa Umar, Deputy Director of Technical Services, Federal Ministry of Finance.

Through its nationwide collection hubs, strategic recycling partnerships, and community engagement programs, the Coca-Cola System in Nigeria continues to advance its global commitment to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can it sells.

By fostering collaboration among government, industry, and civil society, the Coca-Cola System is helping to shape a sustainable circular economy that supports livelihoods, protects the environment, and drives inclusive industrial growth across Nigeria.

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