Participants at the event
In a bold step to address the growing environmental crisis caused by Single-Use Plastics (SUP), 5 (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.
These 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, CSOs and other organisations. The pact signifies the collective commitment to the 50% 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.
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 behavioral change, enforce supportive policies, and create a lasting impact on Ghana’s environment,” said Hobson Kwame Agyapong, Principal Program Officer – Intersectoral Network Department, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
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. We are calling on all supermarkets and eateries to join us on this quest to influence consumer behaviour towards single use plastic through our packaging”.
The 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 Samuel Boadi