Africa Plastic Ban Risks Manufacturing Collapse Warns PAMA
The Pan-African Manufacturers Association (PAMA) has cautioned that sweeping bans on single-use plastics (SUPs) across African countries could destabilise local manufacturing and threaten jobs, urging governments to pursue recycling-led solutions instead.
In a statement released this week, PAMA said the continent’s rapid shift toward plastic prohibition, including Nigeria’s phased ban on SUPs in federal offices, is putting pressure on small and medium-scale manufacturers already operating on fragile margins. The association’s position paper, titled Africa’s Race to Plastic Ban: An Environmental Necessity or Threat to Local Manufacturing?, highlights economic vulnerabilities triggered by abrupt regulatory measures. Citing Kenya’s 2017 plastic bag ban and Rwanda’s earlier restrictions, PAMA argued that poorly planned transitions have previously caused factory closures and employment losses. “Dozens of plastic producers in Kenya shut down overnight without compensation or retraining support,” the group stated, warning that biodegradable alternatives remain financially inaccessible to most African SMEs.
In Nigeria, Lagos State outlawed Styrofoam and certain plastics in 2024, with enforcement to intensify by 2025. PAMA says manufacturers in the packaging and food sectors are already facing uncertainty due to a lack of transition roadmaps and support mechanisms. “Without viable, affordable alternatives, blanket bans could lead to factory closures, job losses, and capital flight,” it said. Instead of outright bans, the association is advocating a circular economy approach that sees plastic waste as a resource. PAMA called on policymakers to invest in recycling infrastructure, offer incentives for biodegradable innovation, and harmonise regulations across borders. It cited successful initiatives like WeCyclers in Nigeria and EcoPost in Kenya as proof that recycling can be both sustainable and economically viable. The group urged the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to help harmonise regulations and build a digital platform linking recyclers, collectors, and manufacturers to ease trade and industrial collaboration.
Led by interim President Mansur Ahmed and interim Co-Secretary Segun Ajayi-Kadir, PAMA emphasised that environmental protection and industrial development need not be at odds. It called for phased bans, clear timelines, and stakeholder engagement to prevent disruption. “Africa can lead a green industrial revolution,” the statement concluded, “but only with the right policy mix.”
