博鱼体育娱乐平台

In this part of the interview with James Odongo, CEO of KEPRO, he outlines how the organization is helping Kenya鈥檚 producers adapt to the country鈥檚 evolving circular economy goals and the newly implemented Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations.

KEPRO, established in response to Kenya鈥檚 2017 ban on single-use plastic bags, serves as a producer responsibility organization designed to help businesses manage the environmental impact of their packaging waste. As of 2024, Kenya has formalized this through the Sustainable Waste Management Act and the Plastics Regulation of 2024, requiring producers to recover, recycle, or safely dispose of post-consumer waste.

Odongo highlights that KEPRO鈥檚 role goes beyond regulation enforcement鈥攊t is about helping businesses future-proof their models through sustainable packaging practices, giving them not just compliance, but also a social license to operate in a market where consumer awareness of environmental issues is rising.

He points out that while the cost of compliance remains a major concern for producers, KEPRO reduces the burden through shared services and economies of scale, making it more affordable for businesses to fulfill their EPR obligations. In doing so, KEPRO is enabling the transition to sustainable production and helping brand owners align with ESG standards and waste compliance mandates in Kenya鈥檚 packaging industry.

“So, my waste is my responsibility. It is a clarion call and a call to action that I hope different audiences, every Kenyan, and every citizen in the country will act upon 鈥� to ensure they are properly disposing of their waste, putting it in the right bin, and becoming ambassadors of change to inspire behavior change among other consumers and citizens who may not have this information” says James Odongo.