…as it celebrates World Water Day with community outreaches
In line with its commitment to promote water sustainability, Nigeria’s leading consumer packaged goods company, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd, a member of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), has advocated for social responsibility towards water use in the celebration of the 2023 World Water Day.
To commemorate the event, the company organized a range of events across its plants in the country including community outreach initiatives, symposiums, and lectures aimed at raising awareness of the importance of water conservation.
As part of the celebration, NBC opened its doors to a selected group of journalists providing them with an exclusive tour of its state-of-the-art Lagos plant. During the visit, the media representatives received a comprehensive briefing on the company’s cutting-edge water treatment procedures.
Ekuma Eze, NBC’s Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, discussed the company’s dedication to sustainable water management. With the theme for World Water Day 2023 being “Accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis,” he highlighted the company’s commitment to demonstrating its initiatives towards responsible water usage and educating the public on the importance of preserving water as a shared resource. “We are aware that water is a vital ingredient in our products. As a result, we are dedicated to using water in ways that are environmentally sustainable, and economically advantageous in the communities where we operate. In our facilities, we put ourselves to the test by setting too ambitious goals for how to cut the amount of water we use to make our beverages.”
Over the last five years, NBC has made noteworthy progress in its efforts to minimize its water consumption, achieving an 18% reduction in its water use ratio. In the previous year, the amount of water abstracted from the environment was reduced by 4%, with 1.5 billion litres of water released back into the environment in a condition suitable for aquatic life. In addition, the organization has implemented measures to recycle the water it extracts, with 192 million litres (4%) of water reused in 2022. Moreover, NBC has donated 22.5 million litres of water back to its host communities, underscoring its commitment to sustainable water management practices.
Temitope Ogunrinde, National Environment Manager, NBC, added that the company was open to partnerships with the government and other stakeholders to ensure sustainable water supply. He emphasized that “Water is an essential part of daily life, and it’s crucial to sustain the water supply to prevent water insecurity, particularly in high-risk areas.”
NBC has a proven track record of undertaking various water stewardship projects in the past. In 2019, the organization refurbished the Kano State Water Board Laboratory in Panshekara, equipping it with cutting-edge water testing technology, along with installing two tube wells to provide clean water to more than 300,000 individuals residing in the Madobi area and Challawa community.
