Fifty women plastic waste collectors have completed training in health and safety standards, and received guidelines for collection and waste management, which in turn is expected to empower over 500 waste collectors across the country.

The women were awarded their graduation certificates at a handover ceremony at Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) Mozambique’s plant in Matola Gare, attended by the Governor of the Province of Maputo, Júlio Parruque.

The training forms part of CCBA’s commitment to make packaging part of a circular economy, placing a strong emphasis on packaging design.

“We realise that the world has a packaging problem. CCBA together with the Coca-Cola Company are leading the industry across Africa to help collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one we sell by 2030,” said Neyde Pires, CCBA Public Affairs Communication and Sustainability Director for the Southern Region.

“CCBA’s commitment is to invest in our planet and our packaging, to help make the world’s packaging problem a thing of the past, working in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company which launched a sustainable packaging initiative called World Without Waste in 2018.”

As part of this vision, CCBA is expanding the use of clear and returnable plastic bottles. The recyclability of CCBA’s packaging in Mozambique is on track to to reach the global target of 100% by 2025.

Pires said the company was making headway to meet the 100% target while striving towards building an inclusive circular economy, with a strong focus on empowering women living in vulnerable communities.  

“This challenge aims to protect the planet, eliminating discarded plastic waste, and protecting the environment. Therefore, in our waste collection programmes, we do not focus only on Coca-Cola bottles,” said Pires.

“To clean up existing packaging, we’re bringing people together through programmes like beach and river cleanups and other ongoing local activities. To encourage more people to recycle more often, we’re investing to help people understand what to recycle, how to recycle, and where to recycle.

“Regardless of where it comes from, we want every package to have more than one life.”