Stakeholders call for sustainable consumption of recycled products

* Consumers have a right to sustainable environment ─FCCPC

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Investors in Nigeria’s recyclable products industry have called for regulatory guidelines to promote sustainable consumption of recycled products in the country.

ConsumerConnect gathered the stakeholders made the call in Lagos at a forum organised by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to commemorate Consumer Rights Day.

Agency reports they stated that steps towards attaining the benchmarks that the United Nations (UN) set on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) concerning production and consumption of recycled products by the year 2030 have been acknowledged.

Adopting the principles is vital for sustainability and protection of Nigerian consumers and the nation’s economy at large, they submitted.

On the occasion, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Honourable Minister for Health, urged the stakeholders to be committed to a broad-based engagement to further promote the framework.

Ehanire, represented by Mrs. Celine Onunkwo, a Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Health, said all hands should be on deck to enable the country achieve the set goals.

He said guidelines for sustainable consumption of goods and services should be strictly adhered to.

According to him, it will help to minimise the negative impact on the environment for the benefit of current and future generations.

Mr. Babatunde Irukera, Chief Executive Officer, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), also said the sustainable consumption initiative must be a tripartite approach involving the government, business operators and consumers.

“Joint collaboration will change the narrative to one that will not only safeguard the environment, but also enhance the welfare of consumers.

“Consumers have a right to sustainable environment and government, businesses and consumers play a vital role in ensuring the environment is sustained,” Irukera said.

The FCCPC CEO urged consumers to be assertive by ensuring that their rights are not infringed upon.

He said the government would form a taskforce of both public and private sector to promote aggressive campaign to encourage consumers to recycle and purchase recyclable products.

He said the long-term plan would encourage the manufacturer to invest in more eco-friendly packaging materials.

Part of the resolutions reached at the forum included the promotion and use of international health standards to improve land and soil quality as well as promote awareness on the benefit of environmental, social and economically sustainable consumption to preserve the environment now and the future.

The participants resolved to promote adequate labelling of products with respect to specific sustainable claims, deploy appropriate technology to encourage environmentally friendly products and services to avoid waste, e.g., recyclable materials.

Participants were drawn from packaged food-drinks, water and container producing companies and other stakeholders in recycling materials value chain, among others.