Stakeholders urged to adopt eco-packaging in East Africa

Stakeholders in East Africa’s packaging, printing, processing, and plastics industries have been urged to strengthen collaboration, particularly in developing regional standards, to accelerate the adoption of eco-friendly packaging solutions.

This was the key message at the 10th edition of the Propak East Africa Expo, which concluded on Thursday in Nairobi.

The call for unified efforts comes amid growing demand driven by the rise of e-commerce and rapid urbanisation across the region, which has intensified the need for sustainable packaging alternatives.

The three-day event brought together over 150 exhibitors from 35 countries, showcasing the latest innovations in packaging technologies while also shedding light on persistent challenges facing the sector.

Montgomery Group, the event organiser, noted that while there has been progress in the development of eco-packaging products, more needs to be done to harmonise standards and policies to enable wider adoption across borders.

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"We have had a well-attended expo with over 5,500 visitors. From key insights, we feel that collaboration in the East African region and especially in standards development and alignment is very important,” said Angela Kinyua, managing director at Montgomery Group East Africa.

She added: “For instance, if a manufacturer is developing a product in Tanzania, then has to come and change it for the Kenyan market, then that becomes a bit difficult for them, hence the need for standardised standards across the region.” 

Ms Kinyua thus encouraged stakeholders to have more collaboration, more partnerships and more exchange of thoughts". She added that emerging industry trends could be better leveraged through organizational collaboration.

She also noted key emerging trends, including the significant rise of flexible packaging and cold chain solutions in food and beverage processing, adding that the plastics industry is benchmarking with South Africa as a guiding path forward.

East Africa's rapid urbanisation and the surge in e-commerce are driving increased demand for packaging and processing.

Countries in the region are implementing various waste management strategies, many of which can be addressed through eco-packaging approaches.

During the second day of the Expo, themed "Packaging as a Powerful Tool for Social Economic Development in East Africa”, Koffi Essuman, Vice President of Education at the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), presented eco-packaging as a significant competitive advantage for businesses.

"Businesses face a growing need to embrace sustainable packaging solutions due to regulatory requirements and a surge in demand of eco-friendly packaging. By adopting these practices, companies can enhance their brands image, ultimately driving business success,” said Essuman.

Panel discussions at the expo, also advocated for the harmonisation of collective regulations for packaging compliance, both regionally and globally.

This harmonisation would aid in managing waste from packaging-related issues as markets expand.

According to the World Bank’s "What a Waste 2.0" report, over 2 billion metric tons of municipal solid waste are generated globally each year, with at least 33 percent not being managed in an environmentally safe manner.

The report projects that annual waste generation could reach 3.4 billion metric tons in the coming decades due to rising global populations and rapid urbanisation.

With continued growth and a stable economy, East Africa is poised to emerge as a market leader in Africa, attracting international companies and further investment.