Rite Foods says it reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 5% in 2025 and cut carbon intensity by 23%, but the food and beverage manufacturer continues to rely heavily on natural gas as it works towards a net-zero target for 2060.

The company disclosed the figures while presenting its 2025 Sustainability Report in Lagos on 24 July.

It also reported a 15% improvement in water-use efficiency, a 27% reduction in its solid-waste ratio and a fall in energy consumption from 0.44 megajoules to 0.41 megajoules per litre of beverage produced.

What changed in 2025?

According to Rite Foods, its greenhouse gas emissions fell by more than 5% in 2025 compared with the previous year.

Contemporaneous reporting of the presentation put the company’s 2024 emissions at 567.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, implying a 2025 figure of roughly 539 tonnes if the reported reduction is applied. The company has not, in the material publicly available for this report, provided independent verification of that calculation.

The company also says carbon intensity – emissions relative to beverage production – fell by 23%.

That distinction matters. A fall in emissions per litre does not necessarily mean that total emissions from the business are falling at the same rate, particularly if production increases.

Rite Foods said its energy-use ratio also improved by about 7%, from 0.44 megajoules per litre in 2024 to 0.41 megajoules in 2025. Solid-waste generation reportedly fell from 10.6g to 7.71g per litre.

Natural gas makes up most of the energy mix

Rite Foods says natural gas accounted for more than 93% of its energy mix, alongside renewable-energy investments.

Natural gas generally produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than coal or some oil products when burned, but it is still a fossil fuel. The company’s figures therefore suggest that its immediate strategy is one of improving efficiency and moving away from more polluting fuels, while gradually increasing renewable energy.

Rite Foods says it has been reducing its reliance on automotive gas oil while increasing the use of natural gas and solar energy.

The company has set a longer-term ambition of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.

Mr Ekuma Eze, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Rite Foods, said: “Sustainability has become a defining pillar of Rite Foods’ growth strategy and a key driver of long-term value creation. Every milestone we have achieved reflects our resolve to operate responsibly, reduce our environmental footprint, create shared value for our stakeholders and contribute meaningfully to national development.”

The challenge for the company will now be demonstrating that the reductions are sustained and that renewable energy becomes a significant part of its energy mix rather than remaining a relatively small supplement to gas.

Plastic claims need closer scrutiny

Plastic waste is another area where the company’s sustainability claims require careful examination.

Rite Foods says it recovered plastic waste through coastal clean-up initiatives and other recycling partnerships.

N581.92m spent on sustainability and CSR

Rite Foods also reported a substantial increase in spending on corporate social responsibility and sustainability programmes.

The company says it spent ₦581.92m in 2025, compared with ₦387.89m in 2024 – an increase of roughly 50%.

It says the money supported education, healthcare, youth empowerment, environmental initiatives and community development.

The company also reported approximately 3,000 direct jobs and more than 12,000 indirect jobs across its supply chain.

It said it paid more than ₦18.41bn in taxes, excluding PAYE deductions, and generated ₦136.19bn in total value added to the Nigerian economy during the year.

Why the reporting matters

Rite Foods’ decision to publish sustainability information comes at a time when Nigeria is moving towards more formal sustainability disclosure requirements.

The Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria unveiled an amended roadmap and Sustainability Reporting Guideline in February 2026 as part of the country’s implementation of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. The framework is intended to improve the quality and consistency of corporate sustainability information.

Nigeria’s sustainability-reporting framework is increasingly connected to international standards. The IFRS Foundation says Nigeria’s roadmap covers IFRS S1 and S2 and applies to public-interest entities, including listed companies, as well as certain non-listed entities.

Rite Foods says its report was prepared with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative Standards and incorporated elements of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards.

The Global Reporting Initiative says its standards are intended to help organisations report publicly on their economic, environmental and social impacts and provide information that can be used to assess an organisation’s contribution to sustainable development.

A 2026 assessment of Nigeria’s ESG landscape published by the International Labour Organisation identified gaps, challenges, risks and opportunities in the adoption and reporting of ESG practices in the country.

A report by ACCA on Nigeria’s sustainability-reporting push also highlighted concerns about the risk of exaggerated environmental claims. Ameh Michael Apeh of GIZ said checks against fraudulent sustainability claims were crucial and warned that greenwashing was increasing as the country’s green economy develops.

The unanswered questions

Rite Foods’ reported progress is measurable in several areas, particularly energy efficiency, water use and waste intensity.

But important questions remain.

The company needs to show more clearly how its total emissions changed alongside production, how much of its energy actually comes from renewable sources, and how its 2060 net-zero ambition will be measured.

And while the company says it voluntarily follows international reporting frameworks, readers and other stakeholders would benefit from knowing whether its key environmental data have undergone independent external assurance.

For consumers, communities, regulators and business partners, the real test will therefore not be the publication of another sustainability report but whether the company can demonstrate year-on-year reductions with transparent, comparable and independently credible data.

Rite Foods says sustainability will remain central to its growth strategy. Its next report should provide a clearer test of whether the commitments announced today are translating into deeper changes in the company’s energy use, emissions, waste and community impact.

The Lagos State Government has commissioned newly rehabilitated access roads and dumping platforms at the Olusosun landfill, one of Nigeria’s largest waste disposal sites, following a 26-day construction project carried out by ZoomLion Nigeria Limited.

State officials say the upgrade is expected to improve access for refuse trucks, reduce delays in waste disposal and strengthen operations at the landfill, which serves a significant proportion of Lagos’ municipal waste.

The project was commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and ZoomLion Nigeria.

ZoomLion Managing Director, Mrs Habiba Abubakar, said the company completed the work within 26 days after initially targeting 21 days.

“We gave ourselves 21 days. On the 20th day, Engineer Francis called and said we might have an issue. I told him I could never return to Lagos State and say we couldn’t deliver the project. He asked for five more days, and today I can proudly say we completed it in 26 days. That is what ZoomLion does.”

She thanked Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Ministry of the Environment, LAWMA and other stakeholders for supporting the project.

“I want to thank the Governor of Lagos State, the Honourable Commissioner, the Managing Director of LAWMA, our stakeholders, everyone from LAWMA, my colleagues, and especially our ZoomLion engineers in blue.”

Mrs Abubakar also credited the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, with establishing the environmental services business that expanded into Nigeria and other African countries.

“The most important person for ZoomLion is not here today, but he sends his love. Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong is the man with the vision. Twenty-five years ago, he dreamt of building an environmental services company that would transform waste management across Africa.”

Addressing questions over the company’s ownership, she said ZoomLion Nigeria operates as a Nigerian company despite being part of a group founded by a Ghanaian businessman.

“Our chairman may be Ghanaian, but he entrusted me with the responsibility of running ZoomLion Nigeria. This is a Nigerian company, operated by Nigerians and committed to delivering lasting environmental solutions for Nigeria.”

She said the company plans to develop transfer loading stations and material recovery facilities that would support recycling instead of relying solely on landfill disposal.

“Eventually, waste collected from different locations will be transported to transfer stations before moving to treatment and recycling facilities… our goal is to recover value from waste instead of simply disposing of it.”

LAWMA Managing Director Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin said the rehabilitation was undertaken after the authority identified operational challenges at the landfill.

“We saw the need to modernise this critical section of the Olusosun Landfill. We reached out to ZoomLion, and they responded immediately. This was beyond what they originally signed up to do, and we sincerely appreciate their commitment.”

He urged residents to separate recyclable materials before disposal.

“We appeal to residents to separate plastics, metals, glass and other recyclable materials from general waste. Recycling companies can collect these materials separately, and doing so will significantly improve our waste management system.”

The National President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), Dr Olugbenga Adebola, described the rehabilitation as an example of public-private collaboration, while also encouraging waste separation at source.

One of the truck drivers using the landfill, Mr Ogedengbe Sunday Oluwadamilare, said the improved road would reduce delays and improve safety for drivers transporting refuse into the facility.

Why the project matters

Olusosun remains central to Lagos’ waste disposal network despite successive government plans to increase recycling and reduce dependence on landfill disposal.

Poor internal roads at major landfills can delay waste evacuation, increase vehicle operating costs and contribute to traffic congestion around disposal sites. Improving access may therefore help operators move waste more efficiently.

However, waste management specialists have consistently argued that infrastructure upgrades alone cannot solve Lagos’ growing waste challenge. Greater investment in recycling, waste separation at source and modern treatment facilities will be needed if the state is to reduce landfill dependence.

Union Bank of Nigeria has partnered with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) to remove more than 200 kilograms of waste from Alpha Community Beach in Lekki, Lagos, in a campaign aimed at tackling plastic pollution and protecting marine ecosystems.

The exercise, held on July 3 as part of the bank’s 2026 Employee Volunteer Day, brought together over 50 staff volunteers, students from Rodan High School in Ajah and environmental advocates to clean one of Lagos’ coastlines.

The initiative comes as Nigeria faces a worsening plastic waste problem. The country generates an estimated 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, with Lagos accounting for about 870,000 tonnes. More than 88% of that waste is not recycled, allowing large quantities to end up in rivers, lagoons and the Atlantic Ocean.

Why it matters

Plastic pollution has become one of Nigeria’s biggest environmental challenges, threatening marine life, fisheries, tourism and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that unless waste collection and recycling improve significantly, pollution in waterways will continue to worsen, increasing flooding, damaging biodiversity and creating health risks for residents.

The cleanup also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), Life Below Water (SDG 14) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).

Bank says climate action requires collective responsibility

Speaking at the event, Union Bank’s Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Mrs Olufunmilola Aluko, said businesses have an important role in addressing environmental challenges.

“At Union Bank, we understand that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility, and we are committed to playing our part. As the impact of climate change becomes more evident, initiatives like this allow our employees to take meaningful action, support cleaner communities, and contribute to a more sustainable future.”

The bank said the exercise forms part of its Employee Volunteering initiative under its UnionCares corporate social responsibility programme.

Partnership drives community action

The cleanup involved the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Union Bank employees, Rodan High School students and the Lagos State Government through the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), which provided logistics and ensured the collected waste was sorted and disposed of according to environmental standards.

Participants worked in eight groups to collect plastic bottles, food packaging and other litter scattered across the shoreline before the waste was weighed to measure the environmental impact of the exercise.

Expert perspective

Environmental sustainability experts say cleanups help restore polluted environments and increase public awareness but argue they cannot replace long-term investment in recycling infrastructure, waste management systems and stronger enforcement against indiscriminate dumping.

They say reducing plastic pollution will require collaboration between government agencies, businesses, schools and communities alongside policies that encourage recycling and responsible consumption.

Industry and public perspective

Corporate environmental campaigns are becoming increasingly common in Nigeria as companies seek to demonstrate stronger commitments to climate action and sustainability.

Environmental advocates say initiatives involving employees and young people can help change public attitudes towards waste disposal while encouraging wider participation in conservation efforts.

What’s next

Union Bank said it plans to continue supporting partnerships and community-based environmental projects as part of its corporate responsibility programme across Nigeria.

Observers say sustained cleanups, combined with stronger recycling policies and public education, could help reduce the volume of plastic waste entering Nigeria’s waterways over time.