By Andrea (Andi) Dixon, Africa Programs Associate.
For this year’s World Clean-Up Day, GAIA Africa ran a two-week-long social media campaign in collaboration with #BreakFreeFromPlastic to expose plastic manufacturers’ pollution across the African continent. By developing social media posts with plastic brand audit results, supplemented by powerful photos provided by GAIA Africa members; We were able to highlight specific problematic plastic waste items found in several African countries. The campaign’s message serves as a call to action: “Whose mess are we cleaning up?”, aimed at plastic producers to reduce their production and take responsibility for the end of life of their products—a key focus among African CSOs eight priority areas towards a Globally Binding Plastics Treaty.
Recent research has shown a one-to-one relationship between plastic production and pollution, indicating that one of the most effective solutions to plastic pollution is reducing production at the source.
This World Clean-up Day, we put the spotlight on plastic producers & problematic plastics challenging communities in Uganda, Ghana, The DR Congo, South Africa, Nigeria and Morocco.
Uganda
Plastic products manufactured by Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Unilever are continuously winning the race to pollute countries globally, including Uganda, as shown in their 2022 brand audit results. This brand audit was carried out by members, End Plastic Pollution and Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) Uganda, where a total of 32 companies were exposed. Additionally, 49% of the items audited were polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, which although marketed as recyclable, a significant portion is not recycled and ends up polluting the environment. This is direct evidence that plastic producers have continuously misled the public for decades with claims that recycling is the sole solution to the plastic pollution crisis. Last month, Bio Vision Africa, in collaboration with Caritas Uganda, NEMA, and GAIA, hosted a workshop in Kampala to update stakeholders on the progress of the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, highlighting Uganda’s role in addressing plastic pollution through stakeholder engagement, public awareness, and better waste management practices. GAIA and the Ugandan members look forward to INC5 with great hope that Uganda contributes significantly to shaping an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty.
“Plastics are the new coal because plastic production and use continue to grow. Corporations’ continued reliance on pumping out massive quantities of single-use plastic packaging results in pumping out massive amounts of carbon emissions, catalysing the climate crisis.” -Nirere Sadrach, End Plastic Pollution Uganda (2024)
Ghana
Fifteen million exported garments, largely fossil-fuel derived plastic fast fashion, are flooding Ghana weekly. These waves of textiles are sold or donated as ‘reusable’ to Ghana when in reality, according to a recent Greenpeace Africa report, up to half of these clothes are textile waste, ending up in overcrowded landfills, illegally dumped in the terrestrial and aquatic environments or being burned as fuel, contributing to toxic air pollution. All of these disposal methods are incredibly damaging for the impoverished communities and local environment in close proximity to this plastic pollution. Previously in May, GAIA Africa targeted our Africa Day campaign towards textile waste exports to Africa with the support of several members, particularly from Upcycle It Ghana who are experts in textile waste advocacy, in Ghana. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), polyester, the dominant plastic fibre in clothing, is predicted to triple between 2007-2025. This largely unaccounted for source of plastic pollution can be prevented by including binding textile production reduction targets and stricter exporting provisions in the upcoming Global Plastics Treaty.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Fishing for plastic in Africa’s great lakes has become common practice , including Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). DRC member, Solidarité pour la Protection des Droits de l’Enfant (SOPRODE), conducted a brand audit in 2023, where the Kahuwa River flows into Lake Kivu, revealing that mountains of waste, especially plastic and organic waste, are continuously dumped into the lake, causing serious problems for people and the environment. One of SOPRODE’s impressively creative advocacy tools has been the use of art; “Through theatrical performances, art exhibitions, and musical creations, SOPRODE engages local communities in a deep reflection on the impact of their actions on the environment. Art makes it possible to reach a wide audience, to arouse emotion, and to transmit messages in a more impactful way than a simple speech.” Reducing plastic pollution through plastic production caps would ensure the protection of Africa’s great lakes, which are sources of cultural importance, offering crucial services, food, drinking water, and livelihood support to over 62 million people.”
South Africa
According to research published this year by the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town and Nelson Mandela University, plastic bottle lids are capturing South Africa’s coasts and are becoming the most prominent source of plastic pollution on beaches. Coca-Cola had over twice as many foreign-made lids as bottles among multinational drink companies, and in South Africa, Coca-Cola lids accounted for at least 60%, despite many older lids losing their inked labels. As early as 2019, the The South African Association for Marine Biological Research (Saambr) also found plastic bottle lid pollution to be significantly higher than other sources on beaches in Kwa-Zulu Natal, indicating this is a recurring problem that calls for single-use bottle manufacturers, particularly Coca-Cola, to reduce their plastic production and redesign their packaging.
Nigeria
One of the most commonly used plastic items in Africa, particularly in the West Africa region, are water sachets.The sachet menace in Nigeria has already been called out by several of GAIA Nigeria members and other organisations, including the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) whose research shows that an estimated 50-60 million sachets are thrown around the city daily. As opposed to establishing water stations and refill systems, The Association of Table Waters Producers of Nigeria are choosing to sell drinking water in plastic sachets, undermining the basic human right to safe and clean drinking water and exploiting this need for their own financial gain, prioritising profit over this basic human right. GAIA’s dedicated Nigerian members have worked tirelessly advocating for single-use plastic (SUP) bans which has successfully contributed to the government’s announcement of a country-wide SUP ban (including sachets) starting from January 2025. GAIA Nigeria members are eager for this long-awaited recognition of the damaging effects of SUPs and are working towards ensuring the success of the ban.
Morocco
Despite plastic bags being banned in Morocco since 2016, bagging this problematic pollution has been unsuccessful. Earlier this month, environmental activists criticised Moroccan authorities of “negligence and laxity” in enforcing Law 15-77, which prohibits the use and sale of plastic bags, resulting in plastic bags reemerging in the Moroccan market. Without ambitious, legally-binding, plastic production cuts embedded in the Global Plastic Treaty and strict enforcement measures with penalties for non-compliance, countries across Africa will continue to be targeted by plastic bag manufacturers regardless of the fact that more than thirty-four African countries already have plastic bag bans in place. The issue of failing plastic bag bans was highlighted during our Plastic Free July 2022 campaign which raised awareness on plastic bag policies across African subregions. Check out GAIA Africa’s own Kenza Sara Elazkem talk about Morocco’s plastic bag policy here where she proposes several initiatives to increase the effectiveness of plastic bag bans in Africa.
To round up World Clean Up Day activities this month, it is important to recognise that although only a handful of problematic plastics across a few African countries were zoomed in on in this campaign, the reality is that these plastics and many more are growing in tsunami waves of pollution across the continent. As we approach INC5 in less than a month, we recognise that we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to fight for Africa’s priorities and stop the continued practice of Waste Colonialism and return to a life before plastic.
Check out our recent Africa Community Sensitisation Guidebook: 101 to Organising for The Global Plastics Treaty, designed to empower community driven initiatives by enhancing the understanding of the Global Plastic Treaty and facilitating effective advocacy campaigns, to join us in fighting for a plastic-free Africa.
ENDS.
