By Anthony Areh
Nestlé , world’s largest food and beverage company, says it is intensifying actions to make 100 per cent of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 .
According to it, it is also intensifying actions to reduce its use of virgin plastics by one-third in the same period.
Nestlé , at a virtual Media Event on Nestle’s Packaging Progress on Tuesday announced a series of new initiatives that include a USD 30 million investment to increase food-grade recycled plastics in the U.S.
The initiatives also include a refillable system for pet food in Chile and a first-of-its-kind recyclable paper packaging for Maggi bouillon cubes in France.
The virtual event connected with the people working on the front-line of Nestle’s sustainable packaging to shape a waste-free future.
The event was hosted by Nestlé ‘s Executive Vice President and Head of Operations , Magdi Batato; Chief Technology Officer , Stefan Palzer and Vice President of Sustainable Packaging, Véronique Cremades-Mathis.
The meeting announced the first investment of Nestlé ‘s sustainable packaging venture fund, discussed progress made, updates on pilot projects on refillable and reusable packaging as well as other innovation.
Véronique Cremades-Mathis, Global Head of Sustainable Packaging, Nestlé, said: “ Currently, 87 per cent of Nestlé’s packaging is already recyclable or reusable.
“We have made strides in our transformative journey towards a waste-free future, but we know that we have more work to do.
“ As the world’s largest food and beverage company, we’re committed to putting our size and scale to work to tackle the packaging waste problem everywhere that we operate.”
According to the company, even as COVID-19 has presented more challenges, the company’s commitment to sustainable packaging remains the same.
Also, a statement by Nestlé, said that the company continues to play a leading role in helping solve the issue of plastic pollution through its three-pillar approach launched in January 2019.
“Pillar 1 includes developing new packaging , transitioning to paper packaging across various formats.
“ For example, Smarties sharing block, a popular color-coated chocolate confectionery product, is available in a recyclable paper wrapper in the UK.
“Nestlé’s water business has doubled the amount of rPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate or recycled PET) used since 2019 across its still water portfolio in the U.S. to 16.5 per cent.
“ Pillar 2 involves shaping a waste-free future. In August 2020, Nestlé Philippines reached plastic neutrality.
“That means Nestlé collected and co-processed the equivalent amount of plastic as 2/2 contained in the products sold and prevented the further flow of plastic into landfills and oceans.
“ Together with Project STOP, Nestlé creates a sustainable waste management system and helps reduce ocean plastic pollution in Indonesia.’’
