Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has urged food processing industries to employ biodegradable and compostable packaging materials as an eco-friendly choice for a more sustainable environment. He made the announcement at the 11th annual PROPAK West Africa 2024: Smart Packaging Conference, which took place at the Landmark Event Centre on Victoria Island in Lagos.
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Speaking on the theme “Unlocking Nigeria Food Security: Implementation of Smart Packaging to Reduce Waste,” the governor, represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, emphasised the role of the food packaging and processing industries in driving economic growth, urging industry players to shape the industry’s future to be more eco-friendly. He stated, “The industries represented here today are critical to Nigeria’s economy.”
They constitute the foundation of our industrial and manufacturing sectors, supporting major industries such as food and beverage, medicines, agriculture, and fast-moving consumer goods. The development of these businesses is critical to our national growth and competitiveness in the global market.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that the conference’s central themes, which focused on implementing sustainable packaging to reduce food waste and exploring cross-sectoral responsibilities in the plastics industry, were critical to Nigeria’s economic stability, environmental sustainability, and citizen well-being. “As Nigeria’s population and economic ambition rise, food security packaging has become a national concern. Despite our abundant agricultural resources, we continue to experience severe post-harvest losses due to poor processing, packing, and storage. In fact, it is believed that up to 40% of Nigerian food production is lost before it reaches the customer,” he said. He urged stakeholders to quickly embrace sustainable packaging technology, emphasising the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration in managing plastics responsibly and driving environmental innovation.
“I urge every stakeholder present to embrace the themes of this year’s event with urgency and resolve. We must actively search out ways to deploy smart packaging technologies that ensure food security while reducing waste. We must work together across industries to manage plastics responsibly and advance ideas that benefit both our economy and the environment,” he said.
Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), highlighted the enormous global challenge of food loss and waste in his presentation at the event, noting that it was a significant contributor to environmental degradation and resource wastage in regions such as Africa, where food security was still an issue.
He stated, “According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), roughly one-third of the annual food produced globally for human consumption—approximately 1.3 billion tonnes—is lost or wasted.” These losses are especially tragic in Africa, where over 20% of the population is undernourished.” Gbadegesin emphasised the Lagos State Government’s proactive actions to address plastic waste issues and promote sustainable packaging solutions, such as the recent ban on single-use plastics, as part of the state’s overall plan to reduce negative environmental effect.
He stated, “On January 22, 2024, the Lagos State Government announced a ban on the use and distribution of styrofoam packs and other single-use plastics, as part of efforts to shift the food industry towards more sustainable practices.” Also, in February 2024, Lagos State emphasised the importance of sensitising our Food Systems Champions to modern methods of agro-produce packing, storage, and transportation.”
Speaking further, the LAWMA president examined various innovative packaging solutions that could transform the food industry, emphasising that sustainable packaging was about more than just protecting products; it was also about protecting the environment, necessitating a shift away from traditional plastics, which posed serious environmental risks. He states that “innovative sustainable packaging must meet all requirements for product safety, waste prevention, shelf life, hygiene, and health.”
Plastic packaging waste raises the most worries about environmental effect, with 40% of disposable food packaging ending up in ways that harm the environment, such as landfilling and microplastics,” he said. He also mentioned several sustainable packaging options, such as bioplastics, biodegradable films, and plant-based packaging materials, emphasising their role in a circular economy, in which packaging does not burden the environment but rather complements it, and highlighting the solutions’ effectiveness, particularly in reducing waste and increasing product shelf life.
He contended that eco-friendly solutions were not only environmentally beneficial, but also in line with consumer preferences and market trends, noting that a sizable portion of consumers now prefer brands that engage in environmentally responsible practices, opening up new opportunities for businesses that adopt sustainable packaging.
He stated, “Statistics show that 45% of customers prefer engaging with environmentally responsible brands, such as those that provide eco-friendly food packaging solutions.” Of these customers, 44% said they would prefer go with a brand that promotes recycling and food waste reduction.
“As we work towards a greener future, biodegradable packaging remains an essential answer for a sustainable world.
It gives businesses the opportunity to improve their reputation while reducing their environmental effect, notably in trash management and landfill diversion,” he added. Also speaking, Segun Ajayi, Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), stated that the event had the potential to create a great future in which everyone had access to nutritious food and smart packaging, and that the organisation was committed to prioritising consumer interests.
Other speakers were Mr. Kofi Essuman, Vice President of the World Packaging Organisation, Regional Director Afrocet Montgomery, George Pearson, President of the African Packaging Organisation, and Ahmed Omeh.
