Key businesses begin initiative to reduce single-use plastics
“The Goldbod shall also pursue value addition policies, promote responsible sourcing and traceability, aggressively combat gold smuggling and provide support for Small-Scale Miners in the form of geological investigations, concession viability and equipment financing,” the statement explained.
IN a bold step to address the growing environmental crisis caused by single-use plastics (SUP), five major supermarkets and other related businesses have assented and committed to the implementation of a Voluntary Pact to phase down Single-Use Plastics in Ghana.
They include Sneda Shopping Centre, Neha Supermarket, All Needs Supermarket, Decathlon Ghana, and Green Butterfly Market.
This follows the successful launch of the Voluntary Pact initiative, co-designed by Plastic Punch together with major supermarkets, Civil Society Organisations and other institutions.
The pact signifies the collective commitment to the 50 per cent reduction of Single-Use Plastic bags in Ghana by 2030, contributing to environmental stewardship, promoting sustainable business practices, and supporting Ghana’s national sustainability goals.
Under the Voluntary Pact initiative, implementing businesses will receive capacity-building trainings to enhance their operations in sustainable practices.
The initiative will also embark on an awareness campaign dubbed: ‘Bag The Habit’ to promote corporate and business environmental responsibility.
Among other things, the campaign will seek to encourage the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives to the use of SUP across key sectors.
Ghana faces significant environmental challenges due to plastic pollution.
The Voluntary Pact initiative, implemented in Ghana with the full support of the government of Ghana under the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), its implementing arm; the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) platform enlists the support of private sector stakeholders, including supermarkets and retail businesses, to drive meaningful change.
The goal is to help businesses transition and reduce the use of SUP such as carrier bags, food packaging, straws, cups, cutlery in the retail, hospitality, food, and beverage sectors.
“The Voluntary Pact initiative is beyond Single-Use Plastic waste reduction; it’s about fostering a cultural shift toward sustainable business operation and consumer behaviour. By engaging stakeholders across sectors, we aim to drive behavioural change, enforce supportive policies, and create a lasting impact on Ghana’s environment,” Hobson Kwame Agyapong, Principal Programme Officer – Intersectoral Network Department, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), said.
The Head of Plastic Punch; Richmond Quarcoo, also indicated that “the campaign will leverage public education to amplify messages around SUP reduction to inspire broader adoption of sustainable practices.”
This initiative is part of the Go Circular project, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
BY KINGSLEY ASARE
