Plastics can
sustain a good portion of the economy and this opportunity has seen many
organisations flock Kenya in droves to tap into this market.
The lates is Dow
(NYSE: DOW) which celebrated the progress of its social enterprise, the Project
Butterfly™ initiative, in Nairobi, Kenya, by bringing together the local
community, entrepreneurs, school children, government agencies and NGOs,
working collectively to address the urgent environmental challenge surrounding
plastics waste in Africa.
The event is
the latest in a series of activities Dow has organised in the region to show
how vital it is to progress to a circular economy in Africa.
Value of Plastic and Recycling
On the
continent, the impact and amount of resource required for plastic production
and use is minimised, and products and materials are recovered as efficiently
as possible so they can be used again.
Dow’s aim is
to keep local environments litter-free and demonstrate the value of plastic and
recycling – transforming plastic waste into new and useful applications,
through innovation and collaboration.
Project
Butterfly™, which originally launched in October 2017 in Tembisa, South Africa
is part of Dow’s global commitment to address plastic pollution and create a
more sustainable planet.
Through the
initiative, Dow is helping to create jobs and reduce plastic waste by providing
the tools and resources needed for better waste disposal and recycling at a
local level and encouraging positive behaviour around recycling.
Phyllis
Wakiaga, CEO, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, said that the plastics value
chain in Kenya is working collaboratively to find ways of enhancing the
circularity of the plastic material.
“Dow
has been an invaluable partner, providing the industry access to global models
that can enhance the circular economy for plastics. We look forward to
continuing to work together to develop a sustainable packaging industry,” she
added.
The
initiative is just one example of how Dow is taking specific actions in every
part of the circular economy to innovate and accelerate progress to address
both climate change and the waste challenge, globally.
From reducing
the carbon footprint of its production processes, designing for recyclability
and working with partners across the value chain to ensure plastic waste is
properly collected and sorted, Dow is committed to ensuring the value of
plastic is retained.
Over two
days, attendees joined over 800 volunteers to participate in a ‘community
clean-up’ in the Kasarani district, led by Dow and ChildFund Kenya.
They also
visited an innovative recycling facility, Mr. Green Africa, to see how it is
pioneering plastic recovery and recycling in Nairobi.
Attendees
also visited the Mukuru community; where Dow has provided receptacles for the
collection of waste.
Circular Economy for Plastics
Dow’s
Commercial Vice President Packaging & Specialty Plastics EMEA at Dow Marco
Ten Bruggencate, said with an extra three billion people predicted to live here
in the next 30 years, the waste footprint will also increase on a massive
scale.
“We know the
plastic waste issue will affect our license to operate here – and we must be
mindful that we earn the right to continue to do business in Africa by
advancing a circular economy for plastics.
“The Project
Butterfly™ initiative is just one of the social impact projects we have
launched to ensure we are part of the clean-up and waste collection, sorting
and recycling systems, so we can continue to do business in Africa, and benefit
the environment, the local economy and communities who live here.”
Dow believes
plastic is too valuable a resource to be thrown away or lost to landfill and is
working to ensure a circular economy for plastics globally.
In doing so,
we can move towards a world in which the practical and social benefits of
plastic are matched by its environmental performance.
Kenya is my home and its development and growth my motivation.
I have a pen and a story to tell about why #KenyaIsMagical.
Do you have a tip?
We can showcase Kenya together since there is no place like home.
Reach me at [email protected]
