GLOBAL studies have consistently shown the negative impacts of dirt, especially plastic waste on the environment. Plastic pollution does not only threaten the environment, but also the human health, now and that of future generations.
It is therefore on this premise and in a move to inspire a more responsible citizenry on sustainability practices that Africa’s foremost laundry brand, OMO, a staple from Unilever Plc, launched an educational campaign across schools to engage and educate children on plastic recycling through its ‘Dirt For Good’ campaign, a holistic approach towards reducing waste, promoting sustainability and creating better communities.
The three-week programme is focused on making children and youths a part of the solution towards addressing plastic waste and littering by sensitizing and encouraging the collection and recycling of plastic waste, and proper waste disposal practices with 30 schools to be engaged through this initiative across Lagos State.
Speaking at one of the activations in Karis Schools, a private educational institution in Magodo Phase 2, the Brand Manager, OMO, Chinonyerem Opara, emphasized the need to take urgent action on sustainability and climate change, stating that Nigerian children are the change maker generation that can impact the future of their environment.
She said, “Global studies have consistently shown the negative impacts of plastic waste on the environment. For example, it can cause intestinal damage when ingested by fishes and turtles. These plastic bags, bottles and other objects flow into canals and water reservoirs and end up partially or completely clogging them.”
“With the huge surge we are currently experiencing, addressing plastic waste and recycling is no longer a local issue, but a global concern for everyone,” she added.
On her part, environmental management expert and Chief Operating Officer, Wecyclers, Yemisi Lawal noted that humans (Nigerians) are daily exposed to a large variety of toxic chemicals and microplastics through inhalation, ingestion, and direct skin contact, all along the plastic lifecycle.
She said, “The low level of recycling in Nigeria, which is less than 12 percent, and inadequate waste collection are a huge threat to plastic pollution management. An estimated 367 million tonnes of plastic were produced in 2020 alone – about 12 tonnes (12,000kg) of plastic waste produced every second that year.”
“If we are to find a lasting solution to waste pollution, it begins by influencing change across all communities, even with students,” Lawal added.
While the health impacts of plastics is still a rather new research area, scientific results to-date do indicate that the toxic chemical additives and pollutants found in plastics threaten human health on a global scale.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – world’s leading independent conservation organisation, an average person ingests approximately five grams of plastic every week.
The Federal Ministry of the Environment, noted that Nigeria, generates about 32 million tonnes of waste per year, among the highest in Africa. Of the waste generated yearly, 2.5 million tonnes is plastic waste, most of which (70 percent) ends up in landfills, sewers, beaches and water bodies.
The ‘Dirt For Good’ campaign is lending a voice to the global concern on plastics and wastes in line with the brand purpose which is to ‘Power up the world’s change makers to get Dirty For Good’ and encourage the young people to take action on these issues to make a change for the future.
As Unilever’s largest detergent brand with a dominant presence in several countries, including Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, India, and Thailand, the OMO brand operates with a central belief that taking action alongside others has a positive impact on young people’s wellbeing, their communities, and the planet.
To make campaign fun, the pupils were engaged in arts and craft using some wastes materials like paper, pep bottles to create hand fans, masks, among others. Also, the school children were taught how to properly disposed their wastes through sorting
Some of the school children were rewarded with gifts like branded OMO school bags, water cans, books, among others.
Comments are closed.