Alcohol Industry in Kenya – Hypocrisy Exposed as ABAK Fights Environmental Legislation

The Alcoholic Beverages Association of Kenya (ABAK), representing some of the world’s largest alcohol companies, is now fighting proposed legislation that would regulate glass bottle recycling to protect the environment. The association, which includes major players like Kenya Breweries Limited (owned by Diageo), Heineken and Keroche Breweries, is lobbying against a bill championed by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale that would require companies to be responsible for recycling the glass they produce.

This opposition reveals a glaring hypocrisy: while these companies loudly advertise their environmental “commitments” through corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaigns, they simultaneously lobby against legislation designed to hold them accountable for environmental protection.

The proposed bill requires alcohol producers to adopt systems for collecting and recycling glass bottles to reduce environmental waste. According to Duale, glass bottles litter roads, fields, and water sources across Kenya, creating significant environmental and public health challenges. Given that the alcohol industry is one of the largest producers of glass waste, they would naturally bear the responsibility for managing the harm caused by their products.

ABAK’s response? Opposition. The association claims that the law would be too costly and disruptive for the alcohol sector, ignoring the fact that corporate responsibility for waste management is a standard practice globally.

Alcohol companies in Kenya, particularly large multinationals like Diageo, frequently use environmental CSR initiatives to promote their brands. Campaigns highlighting water conservation, tree planting, or reduced carbon emissions are used to paint these companies as “responsible corporate citizens.” These initiatives are prominently featured in advertisements, social media and annual reports, all while they lobby behind the scenes to dismantle or weaken legislation that protects the environment.

This is not a new tactic – globally, the alcohol industry has a history of using CSR to distract from its harmful practices. By promoting voluntary, company-driven initiatives, they attempt to avoid meaningful regulations that would hold them accountable for environmental and public health impacts.

The alcohol industry profits from its products while pushing the burden of environmental damage onto the public. Opposing policies that mandate glass recycling underscores their prioritization of profit over the health and safety of people and the planet.

Source:
https://nation.africa/kenya/business/why-alcohol-companies-are-unhappy-with-duale-4856804#story

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