By Daniel Igboekwe
The sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) industry has come under fire from health and climate experts for its dual role in fueling the climate crisis and exacerbating public health issues.
Experts are urging Nigeria to adopt strict measures to curb SSB consumption to protect both human health and the environment.
Speaking at a webinar organized by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), titled “SSB and Climate Change: Climate Cost of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages”, experts highlighted the link between SSB production, single-use plastics (SUPs), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
They warned that the industry’s reliance on SUPs for packaging significantly contributes to climate change while promoting unsustainable consumption patterns.
Health and climate costs
CAPPA Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi underscored the urgency of addressing the environmental impacts of SSB packaging.
He cited Coca-Cola and PepsiCo as the top global plastic polluters, emphasizing the detrimental role of plastic waste in accelerating climate change.
Dr. Francis Fagbule, a public health expert from the University of Ibadan, detailed the health risks associated with SSB consumption. “SSBs are major contributors to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer,” he said.
He added that the beverages are marketed aggressively despite their lack of nutritional value, driving up NCD cases even among children and adolescents.
“Reducing SSB consumption is critical,” Fagbule noted, advocating for stronger SSB taxes as an effective deterrent. “These taxes can also generate revenue for strengthening healthcare systems to better address NCDs.”
The plastic problem
Olamide Martins Ogunlade, CAPPA’s Senior Programmes Manager, spotlighted the environmental toll of plastics in SSB packaging.
Citing data, he revealed that 40% of global plastic waste comes from food and beverage packaging, much of which ends up as environmental pollutants.
“Plastics are not just an environmental menace—they are also a public health hazard,” Ogunlade explained. Microplastics from discarded plastics contaminate soil, water, and food systems, with serious implications for human health, including cancer and hormonal disruptions.
He also emphasized the lifecycle emissions of plastics, noting that GHGs are released during production, usage, and disposal. “Plastics take centuries to degrade, polluting ecosystems and threatening marine biodiversity,” he said.
Proposed solutions
To tackle the intertwined crises of SSBs and plastic waste, the experts called for multi-pronged strategies:
1. Strengthen SSB Taxes: Implement a pro-health SSB taxation framework and redirect the proceeds to public health interventions.
2. Enforce Plastic Waste Policies: Ogunlade urged for the robust enforcement of Nigeria’s National Policy on Plastic Waste Management.
3. Promote Sustainable Packaging: Manufacturers should reduce their reliance on SUPs, redesign packaging, and adopt eco-friendly alternatives.
As the world grapples with the outcomes of the COP29 climate conference, the spotlight on the SSB industry is a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustainable practices in industries that significantly impact public health and the planet.