NB sources 99% packaging materials locally for sustainable development

As part of efforts for sustainable development in the manufacturing sector, the Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc says it sources 99 per cent of its packaging materials locally.
Mr Patrick Olowookere, the Corporate Communications and Brand Public Relations Manager of the company, made the disclosure at the Ibadan brewing plant on Thursday.
Olowookere said that the percentage covered locally manufactured cans, crown corks, crates, bottles and labels among others, which were all part of strategic partnerships with local manufacturers.
“Before now, we used to source our canning materials from Europe and as time went by, we realised that it was not sustainable.
“We decided to look at backward integration which is the only way to promote sustainability and local content development.
“NB then partnered with a company called GZ International for the production of cans for its canning lines, while other packaging materials are also sourced locally at a cheaper cost.
“Now, we are at 99 per cent sourcing our packaging materials from local manufacturers with an assurance from NB that it will buy the materials they produce,’’ he said.
Olowookere also said that the company was more proactive in developing agricultural value chains like in the development of sorghum and food grade starch among others.
He said the company had been able to invest and built the biggest sorghum malting plant in Africa and, arguably globally.
The NB produces about 2.6 million hectolitre of beer annually, and one hectolitre is 100 litres.
Also, of its 11 breweries in the country, only nine are up and running currently.
The major ones are sited in Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Aba and Kaduna.