By Fatima Muraina

The Pan-African Manufacturers Association (PAMA) has called on African governments to prioritise recycling and circular economy strategies over sweeping bans on single-use plastics, warning that the growing trend of outright prohibitions poses a major threat to the continent’s fragile manufacturing base.

PAMA noted in a statement that the recent wave of plastic bans across Africa, including Nigeria’s phased ban on single-use plastics in Federal Government offices, may endanger local industries, especially small and medium-scale manufacturers.

While we understand the environmental concerns driving these policies, the pace and scope of bans are putting African manufacturers at risk,” PAMA stated in a position paper titled ‘Africa’s Race to Plastic Ban: An Environmental Necessity or Threat to Local Manufacturing?’

The group cited Kenya’s 2017 ban on plastic bags and Rwanda’s earlier restrictions as examples of poorly planned transitions that led to business closures and job losses.

“Dozens of plastic producers in Kenya shut down overnight, without compensation or retraining support,” PAMA noted, adding that most biodegradable alternatives remain too expensive for African Small and Medium Enterprises.