Water sachets or sachet water is a common form of selling pre-filtered or sanitized water in plastic, heat sealed bags in parts of the global south, and are especially popular in Africa. [1] Water sachets are cheaper to produce than plastic bottles, and easier to transport. [2] In some countries, water vendors refer to sachet water as "pure water". [3] [4] [5]
High demand, and poor collection of waste from consumers, has resulted in significant plastic pollution and waste from sachets throughout the West Africa. [1] [3] Accumulation of sachets frequently causes blocked stormwater drainage, and other issues. [3] Some countries, such as Senegal, have banned disposable sachets. [1]
Because sachets are frequently filled in small and often unregulated facilities, inadequate sanitary conditions can occasionally result in disease or contamination. [6] [2] However, in countries like Ghana consumers still prefer that access over other forms of venders, with a perception of lower risk. [2] This form of water distribution provides vital access to water in communities that otherwise wouldn't have it. However, some scholars have identified this method of distribution as having potential human rights and social justice issues, limiting the right to water and sanitation. [2] [7]
Studies of sachets frequently find improper sanitary conditions among sachet producers. One study of sachets in Port Harcourt, Nigeria found that sachet water has significant contamination from various disease causing microbes. [8] Prolonged storage of the sachets found human-health threatening levels of the microbes after 4 months in several of the samples. [8] Similarly following the onset of the COVID pandemic, in Damongo found 96% of producers didn't have adequate sanitary measures. [9]
Sachet water is common through Ghana. [2] A 2012 review of sachet use in Ghana found sachet water ubiquitous especially in poorer communities. [2] Sachets were typically 500 ml polyethylene bags, and heat sealed at each end. [2] Sachet water delivery is part of a larger trend in delivery by private water vendors from municipal taps. [2]
Packaging water in small plastic bags started in the 1990s, and that practice grew after the introduction of Chinese machines for filling and heat sealing bags. [2] A price increase in 2022, saw significant changes in the sales in the Ashanti region. [10]
Sachet water has become increasingly important part of the water access in Nigeria, especially fast growing cities like Lagos. [11] [12] The cost of Sachet water is dependent on economic changes. In 2021, the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria increased the price of bag of sachet water to 200 naira due to increase in production cost. [13] A significant devaluation of local currency led to significant price increases in 2022. [14] [15]
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Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water.
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Ghana Innovation Marketplace 2009, abbreviated as GIM 2009, is an innovation competition that seeks innovative strategic solutions to Ghana's growing problem of solid waste management. The World Bank Group, in collaboration with the Government of Ghana, and other partners are sponsoring GIM 2009 to recognise and fund social entrepreneurs, small-actors and partner organisations/CSOs in the waste management sector.
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Resource recovery is using wastes as an input material to create valuable products as new outputs. The aim is to reduce the amount of waste generated, thereby reducing the need for landfill space, and optimising the values created from waste. Resource recovery delays the need to use raw materials in the manufacturing process. Materials found in municipal solid waste, construction and demolition waste, commercial waste and industrial wastes can be used to recover resources for the manufacturing of new materials and products. Plastic, paper, aluminium, glass and metal are examples of where value can be found in waste.
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Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the Earth's environment that adversely affects humans, wildlife and their habitat. Plastics that act as pollutants are categorized by size into micro-, meso-, or macro debris. Plastics are inexpensive and durable, making them very adaptable for different uses; as a result, manufacturers choose to use plastic over other materials. However, the chemical structure of most plastics renders them resistant to many natural processes of degradation and as a result they are slow to degrade. Together, these two factors allow large volumes of plastic to enter the environment as mismanaged waste and for it to persist in the ecosystem.
Biodegradable additives are additives that enhance the biodegradation of polymers by allowing microorganisms to utilize the carbon within the polymer chain as a source of energy. Biodegradable additives attract microorganisms to the polymer through quorum sensing after biofilm creation on the plastic product. Additives are generally in masterbatch formation that use carrier resins such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Trashy Bags Africa is a commercial venture in Accra, Ghana, which turns plastic waste into reusable shopping bags, fashion accessories, school supplies, and other products.
A packet or sachet is a small bag or pouch, made from paper, foil, plastic film or another type of packing material, often used to contain single-use quantities of foods or consumer goods such as ketchup or shampoo. Packets are commonly opened by making a small rip or tear in part of the package, and then squeezing out the contents.
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