World Environment Week 2025

A Retrospective on Impact and Innovation

FES volunteers enthusiastically participate in a cleanup at the local fish market, kicking off day 1 of World Environment Week activities.

During World Environment Week 2025, For Earth’s Sake (FES) participated in a dynamic series of events in Douala, synchronising local action with the UN’s #BeatPlasticPollution campaign and its 2025 theme, Ending Global Plastic Pollution.

Day 1 – Rivers, Markets & Community Cleanup

FES kicked off the week alongside the Port Authority of Douala (PAD) with cleanup operations targeting the banks of the Wouri River and the Port de Pêche (local fish market). Volunteers worked tirelessly to collect plastic waste from these vital waterway and market zones—places heavily impacted by pollution and critical to community health and commerce. This activity aligned directly with global priorities to reduce plastic waste leaching into aquatic ecosystems .

Day 2 – Innovation in Action at NAMé Recycling

On the second day, the FES and PAD teams visited NAMé Recycling, a pioneering company in Cameroon scaling plastic transformation solutions. With processing centers in Douala, Limbe, and Gabon, the company has recycled approximately 9,000 tons of plastic—equivalent to roughly 250 million bottles since 2016.

The highlight of our visit was witnessing their plastic pallet production, which replaces wooden pallets with durable recycled plastic versions, helping reduce deforestation and extend the life of discarded plastics. The innovation showcased how plastic waste can become functional and sustainable goods.

Day 3 – Strategy & Collaboration at PAD Conference

The final day brought stakeholders together at PAD’s World Environment Day Conference, focused on Ending Plastic Pollution. Representatives from PAD departments presented progress, challenges, and strategies to curb plastic waste in port operations. Mrs. Lizette T. Ngangue‑Bewekedi, FES Founding President, took part in the dialogue, sharing FES’s ongoing work: community cleanups, educational outreach, and cross-sector partnerships aimed at reducing plastic pollution in Cameroon.

The platform offered open, strategic exchanges that reinforced collaboration as the foundation for institutional and environmental impact.

Local Leadership Driving Global Progress

Across three days, FES joined forces with public agencies, private innovators, and civil society to translate the global call of #BeatPlasticPollution into tangible steps on the ground. These interventions, from river cleanups to waste-to-product innovation to public dialogue, represent integrated efforts aligning with UNEP and UN priorities.

NAMé Recycling’s model particularly illustrates circular economy principles: collecting PET, HDPE, and LDPE plastics, processing them into recycled materials, and generating green jobs, all while minimizing environmental impact.

World Environment Week demonstrated that every action matters. As Cameroon and the global community move forward:

• Individuals: participate in or organize cleanup efforts in your area.

• Groups & businesses: consider partnerships with innovators like NAMé Recycling.

• Institutions: integrate sustainable plastic practices into operations and policy frameworks.

Join us in keeping the momentum alive beyond the week and every day for plastic-free rivers, cleaner communities, and healthier environments.