Greenpeace Africa issues corruption warning as Cameroonian authorities intercept non-biodegradable plastics smuggling

15 Oct 2021 --- Cameroonian authorities have intercepted a smuggling operation attempting to bring illegal non-biodegradable plastics into the country. Greenpeace Africa highlights the incident as an example of corruption impeding efforts to improve environmental sustainability in packaging. 

In 2012, Cameroon issued a decision banning non-biodegradable plastic packaging of fewer than 60 microns to combat plastic bag pollution, which came into force in April 2014.

“Biodegradable” plastic is generally defined as any plastic that breaks down into water, biomass and gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane. Biodegradability depends on environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, microorganisms present and oxygen.

Speaking to PackagingInsights, Ranèce Jovial Ndjeudja, forest campaign manager for Greenpeace Africa, says the ban has had no impact on plastic consumption in the country. 

He explains that illegal plastic smuggling is an issue of cost-competitiveness, a lack of legal harmonization and poor law enforcement. 

“We can observe that the demand for and the use of plastic remains the same in Cameroon despite the ban. People have kept the same habits in plastic use, and most of the time, when there is a demand, there are people who provide a supply to gain money.” 

“The weakness in our law enforcement can also be considered as an issue.” 

African plastic legislation 
Jovial Ndjeudja says there is a “clear lack” of harmonizing laws between neighboring countries throughout the region and across Africa, which aids the illicit plastic smuggling trade. 

Disparate legal systems in Africa make plastic smuggling a lucrative trade.He adds that the array of total and partial plastic bans creates an obvious opportunity for smugglers to profit from the price differences arising under different legislation. 

“In the Republic of Congo, for example, the government prohibited plastic bags and sachets for the sale of food, water and any other drink, along with oxo-biodegradable plastic bags, sachets and films. In Cameroon, however, only non-biodegradable plastic bags are banned.” 

“We need to harmonize the laws, practices and efforts of African countries or at least at the sub-regional level,” he says.

Legal unity over environmental packaging legislation has been observed in some East African countries, including Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. 

“Another approach will also include the fight against corruption, particularly customs and public servants in charge of implementing the ban,” Jovial Ndjeudja asserts. 

International aid 
According to Jovial Ndjeudja, there is not necessarily a lack of resources in Cameroon to ensure plastic bans are observed and smuggling combated. 

“Maybe those resources are not enough, but there are some. The first issue to raise is to know how current resources are used,” he says. 

“We can easily observe that [the 2014 plastic ban] didn’t help stop or even reduce plastic use, and more specifically non-biodegradable bags. For us, this means they [the regulations] have not been properly and efficiently used.”Cameroon banned non-biodegradable plastic bags in 2014.

The failure to implement the national ban also means international aid will not fix the problem, argues Jovial Ndjeudja.

“If no real strategy is developed and put in place, any support from the international community might not have the expected impact and won’t lead to the end of non-biodegradable plastic in Cameroon.”

No absolute victory 
Greenpeace Africa advocates to end the use of “all plastic-related products,” including biodegradable alternatives. 

“Biodegradable plastic is not sustainable at all. That’s why in our interpellation to the Government of Cameroon, we insisted that the destruction of the 42 tons of plastic Cameroonian customs intercepted should not be celebrated as an absolute victory,” says Jovial Ndjeudja.

“But this should be seen as a reminder that they should put in place smarter strategies with enough means to ensure the enforcement of the current law.” 

This year, British recycling expert Robbie Staniforth explained to PackagingInsights that biodegradable plastics could exacerbate environmental damage.

By Louis Gore-Langton