Fruit waste, glass pollution raise sustainability red flags in beverage industry

A trader inspects mangoes and passion fruits at her stall in Kakamega town. Up to half of harvested fruit in Kenya is lost before reaching markets, a new report says. [File, Standard]

Kenya's beverage industry is under growing scrutiny over wasteful supply chains and unsustainable packaging, as more players enter the premium drinks market while relying heavily on local produce.

A new impact report by African Originals, a local beverage manufacturer, says Kenya loses over 50 per cent of its fruit during harvest and post-harvest processes, calling it a structural failure that threatens food security and weakens farm-based livelihoods.

The company sources fruits from across the country to produce drinks such as ciders, gins and tonic waters. It says the current rate of loss undermines the entire value chain.

"Sustainability has always been more than a business imperative for me, it's personal," said the company's Chief Executive Officer, Alexandra Chappatte, in the report.

In its 2024 review, the firm said it sourced fresh produce from smallholders and large-scale farmers as well as aggregators, with Sh6.2 million going to smallholders.

The company said it would increase its footprint in farm-fresh sourcing by one and a half times year over year.

Kenya's beverage manufacturers rely heavily on glass bottles, yet only a fraction are reused or recycled. The report said African Originals aims to reuse 40 per cent of its glass bottles by the end of 2024 and eliminate plastic from its operations by 2026.

On labour and inclusion, the company said it wants to raise its investment in youth and women entrepreneurs by 1.25 times annually through paid opportunities.

The report pointed to a 67 per cent youth unemployment rate and wide gender gaps in financing, with only 7 per cent of women-run small businesses formally financed.