Windhoek – Two hundred and fifty waste collectors from Windhoek, Swakopmund and Otjiwarongo will receive training and the opportunity to link up with recyclers through a pioneering community recycling programme supported by Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) in Namibia.
The initiative is designed to equip participants with valuable skills and insights into income generation through recycling.
CCBA in Namibia will also facilitate connections between the participants and reputable recycling companies, promoting a well-rounded ecosystem for waste utilisation.
The Development Workshop of Namibia (DWN) and Recycle Namibia Forum (RNF) have jointly developed a comprehensive recycling guide that serves as a blueprint for the project.
Participants will be empowered to negotiate equitable prices for their final recycled products, promoting a sense of ownership and entrepreneurship. Each participant will receive a comprehensive training module and a curated recycling starter pack.
Safety is a primary consideration throughout the programme, and CCBA in Namibia will provide essential gear including gloves, reflector jackets and sanitisers.
The programme will assist the local authorities towards cleaner communities and towns in Namibia, while creating an income stream for currently unemployed people.
“At CCBA in Namibia, we are leading the industry in making our value chain increasingly sustainable in the way that we manufacture our products, how we distribute them and how we sell them,” said Public Relations, Communications and Sustainability Director Enid Johr.
“We have the scale and reach to make a real difference, and we’re using our leadership position to drive change and help put our planet on a more sustainable path.
“We want our business and the communities we serve to benefit from greater shared opportunity. This is about more than the bottom line, because opportunity is not measured by money alone. Opportunity means a better future for people across the African continent,” Johr said.
“Profitability is important, but so is doing business the right way by growing with conscience. People and the planet we call home are at the heart of our values.
“By following our values and working for a better shared future, we create inclusive growth that benefits communities, women and youth, our customers, our employees and our shareholders.”
*Update* On December 2, 2024, The Coca-Cola Company announced updated voluntary environmental goals. Read more here: The Coca-Cola Company Evolves Voluntary Environmental Goals
