US oil companies looking to profit by importing plastics to Africa
As many countries are moving toward a plastic-free future, American oil companies are rushing to find a new source of profit for the petroleum products that will no longer be purchased by western countries. As the oil industry continues to lose profits due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the industry is pushing for a trade-deal that would weaken Kenya’s rules on plastic imports from America.
Much like many neighboring African countries, Kenya has increased efforts to limit plastic waste by banning plastic bags and limiting foreign plastic waste imports. A recent article in the New York Times highlighted the plans the US fossil fuel industry has created to use the existing fossil fuel supply that is no longer profitable in the US indicating American big oil companies and plastics manufacturers are lobbying to reverse Kenya’s strict limits on plastics, which would create a new market for plastic products and solve US landfill shortage issues.
This would be an environmental step backward. Though the oil industry would flourish from this, the lobbying being done by petroleum companies is spreading concern among Kenyan environmental groups who have been working to reduce both plastic use and waste.
The United States and Kenya are negotiating a trade deal on which Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya, has made clear he is eager to come to an agreement. Although this deal would initially only effect Kenya, plastic makers are already looking beyond Kenya’s borders into neighboring countries. In a letter, Ed Brzytwa, the Director of International Trade for the American Chemistry Council wrote, “We anticipate that Kenya could serve in the future as a hub for supplying U.S. made chemicals and plastics to other markets in Africa through this trade agreement.”
Unfortunately, big money and political pressure could undo the initial steps African countries have taken to try and solve the plastic waste management problems on the continent.
In a country such as Côte d’Ivoire, where new landfills and garbage collection service is being reestablished after years of civil unrest had impacted infrastructure, the government has banned some single-use plastics in an attempt to curb the amount of plastic waste produced by its people. The new law banning plastics is just gaining the support of the public and momentum is building. Unfortunately, much of the plastic waste still ends up in the streams and rivers that feed into the Gulf of Guinea and then are brought back to the beach on the surf.
Africa doesn’t need more plastics. The world doesn’t need more plastic. Surely the fossil fuel and chemical industries could use their creativity to come up with a better solution to their problem.
Koné Consulting
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS INSPIRING CHANGE
AND LASTING IMPROVEMENTS
Follow us on our Facebook, Twitter and LinkdIn.