Manufacturers urged to prioritize environment in product design

A crucial call was made to manufacturers to acknowledge that their responsibility extends beyond simply creating products as they should make end-of-life considerations during the design process.

This was said during the 2024 Brand Audit and clean-up exercise organized by Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev) Nigeria in collaboration with the Association of Waste Pickers of Lagos (ASWOL).

The event, which took place at Tarmac, Oluwole Housing Estate, Ogba in Lagos State, emphasized the need for manufacturers to design products with recyclability and biodegradability in mind.

Representatives from SRADev and ASWOL stressed that products should be easy to disassemble for recycling, and manufacturers should integrate recycled materials into the production process of new goods.

A significant portion of plastic pollution stemmed from single-use packaging, particularly sachet water and alcoholic drinks.

The audit highlighted bottle labels and PET as the most prevalent plastic types, while PS and HDPE were among the least.

Aside from raising awareness about the health impacts of plastic pollution, the audit aimed to hold corporations accountable for their plastic waste and advocate for regulatory action to eliminate single-use plastics in Nigeria.

The Brand Audit, organized annually by Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) and Break Free from Plastics (BFFP), seeks to combat plastic pollution and promote sustainable waste management practices.

SRADev Nigeria, as a core member of GAIA/BFFP, actively participates in the audit by conducting clean-up activities and collecting data on plastic waste.