After growing from a local initiative in 2008 to an international movement in 2018, the United Nations set aside the 17th of September to be celebrated annually as World Cleanup Day. This day is marked to raise awareness of the prevalent, affecting the world today.
In tackling this issue, the UN movement brings together millions of volunteers, governments, and organizations across various countries, to participate in cleanup actions as one of the many ways to build a new and sustainable waste-free world. This has captured the attention of people worldwide, who have been inspired to follow suit with the same ambitious ‘one country, one-day’ formula. This global movement has moved way beyond just picking up litter, to a point where citizens are conscious of keeping their environment clean by disposing of PET waste properly.
Poor waste disposal is one of the major environmental problems that developing nations face. The lack of efficient waste management, if unabated, will continue to pose a harmful risk to citizens’ health, drainage, environment, society, and economy. Careless dumping of refuse, into drainages, failure to recycle recyclables, and garbage burning are common practices amongst Nigerians which perversely produce gastrointestinal, dermatological, respiratory, genetic, and other adverse effects.
The Coca-Cola system in Nigeria, alongside its philanthropic arm, The Coca-Cola Foundation, has been instrumental in championing recycling knowledge and awareness around effective waste management, how to create, favorable and safe living conditions for Nigerians, and taking action with its partners towards the reduction of environmental degradation.
Beyond marking World Cleanup Day, Coca-Cola engages in community sensitization of rural and urban communities across Nigeria, advocating for behavioral change toward waste recovery and recycling. Through its African Sustainability platform, JAMII, the organization has continued to foster collective action and partnerships across industries, government, and society to address PET waste challenges.
JAMII was launched to build and expand on the past accomplishments of The Coca-Cola Company across three core areas, namely waste management, water stewardship, and economic empowerment of women and youth.
