Nestlé has revealed a series of sustainability pledges as it aims to meet its commitment of making 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025, with a particular focus on avoiding plastic waste.
As of February, Nestlé will begin to eliminate all plastic straws from its products, using alternative materials like paper as well as “innovative designs” to reduce littering.
The world’s largest food and beverage company said it will also start rolling out paper packaging for Nesquik in the first quarter of 2019 and for the Yes! snack bar brand in the second half of 2019. Smarties will start introducing plastic-free packaging in 2019, while Milo will launch paper-based pouches in 2020.
Meanwhile, Nestlé Waters has pledged to increase the recycled PET content in its bottles to 35% by 2025 at the global level and will reach 50% in the US.
The Switzerland-headquartered company said its Institute of Packaging Sciences, which was inaugurated last December, is exploring new paper-based materials and biodegradable and compostable polymers that are also recyclable.
Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider said: “Our broader vision and action plan outline our commitment and specific approach to addressing the plastics packaging waste issue.
“While we are committed to pursuing recycling options where feasible, we know that 100% recyclability is not enough to successfully tackle the plastics waste crisis. We need to push the boundaries and do more. We are determined to look at every option to solve this complex challenge and embrace multiple solutions that can have an impact now.
“We believe in the value of recyclable and compostable paper-based materials and biodegradable polymers, in particular where recycling infrastructure does not exist.
“Collective action is vital, which is why we are also engaging consumers, business partners and all of our Nestlé colleagues to play their part.”
Nestlé said that as part of its ambition to stop plastic leakage into the environment across its global operations, it has become the first food company to partner with Project STOP, which was launched in Indonesia in 2017. The initiative is creating sustainable, circular and low-cost waste systems that capture as much value from waste as possible.
Last October, Nestlé joined the Global Ghost Gear Initiative to help address the more than 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear ending up in oceans each year.
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