By Opeyemi Muhammed
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has advocated the use of biodegradable and compostable packaging materials in food processing factories, as an eco-friendly option for a sustainable environment.
Sanwo-Olu made the remarks at the 11th edition of the PROPAK West Africa 2024 Smart Packaging Conference, on Tuesday in Lagos.
TheNewsZenith reports that Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment represented the governor at the event.
The governor underscored the role of food packaging and processing industries in driving the nation’s economic growth.
He charged the stakeholders in the sector to shape the future of the industry to an eco-friendly one.
TheNewsZenith reports that the theme of the conference is “Unlocking Nigeria Food Security: Implementation of Smart Packaging to Reduce Waste”.
“The industries represented here today are integral to Nigeria’s economy.
“They form the backbone of our industrial and manufacturing sectors.
“They are supporting various key areas such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and fast-moving consumer goods.
“The development of these industries is vital to ensuring our national growth and competitiveness in the global market,” Sanwo-Olu said.
According to him, packaging for food security is a national priority. This is as Nigeria continues to grow in both population and economic ambition.
“Despite our rich agricultural resources, we still face significant post-harvest losses due to inadequate processing, packaging and storage.
“Up to 40 per cent of Nigerian food is lost before reaching the consumer.”
The governor, therefore, advised industry players stakeholders to embrace sustainable packaging technologies with urgency.
He stressed the need for cross-sectoral collaboration to manage plastics responsibly and drive innovations that protect the environment.
In his welcome remarks, the Director-General of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi, said the event provided a potential avenue to enhance access to nutrition food and smart packaging.
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The conference, he noted, “create a great future where everyone would have access to nutritious food and smart packaging”.
Ajayi reiterated MAN’s commitment to prioritising the interest of consumers.
In a presentation, the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, highlighted the challenges of food loss and wastage.
Gbadegesin noted that food wastage “is a significant contributor to environmental degradation and resource wastage in Africa.
“According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), roughly one-third of the annual food produced globally for human consumption is lost or wasted.
Approximately, 1.3 billion tonnes of food are either lost or wasted yearly, he said, quoting FAO.
“These losses are in Africa where approximately 20 per cent of the population have inadequate nutrition.”
Gbadegesin outlined the proactive steps of the Lagos State Government to address plastic waste issues and to promote sustainable packaging solutions.
These include the recent ban on single-use plastics, as part of the state’s broader strategy to reduce negative environmental impact.
The LAWMA boss x-rayed various innovative packaging solutions that could transform the food industry.
He stressed that sustainable packaging was not only about protecting products but also about safeguarding the environment.
“This necessitate a shift from conventional plastics use, which posed severe environmental hazards,” TheNewsZenith quoted him as saying.
According to him, innovative sustainable packaging must meet all requirements for product safety, waste prevention, shelf life, hygiene and health.
He said plastic packaging waste raises the biggest concerns on environmental impact.
Fourty per cent of disposable food packaging end up in ways that negatively affect the environment, Gbadegesin added.
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