Nestlé, the Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate, has set an ambitious goal to ensure that none of its packaging ends up in landfill or as litter. According to Sokhna Gueye, head of packaging, UK & Ireland, Nestlé is working tirelessly towards this vision.
“We know this will take time to achieve,” Gueye stated. “Work continues at pace to ensure that as close to 100% of our packaging is designed for recycling by 2025, while also aiming for 100% of our packaging to be recyclable and reusable. By the end of 2023, 83.5% of our plastic packaging was designed for recycling, and we have reduced virgin plastic in our packaging by 14.9% since 2018.”
In the UK, Nestlé has introduced a 150g paper refill pack for Nescafé Gold Blend at Tesco, allowing consumers to refill their glass jars at home and recycle the paper pouch through their kerbside recycling collection. This paper pack is 97% lighter than the 200g glass jar.
Furthermore, Nestlé has made significant efforts to reduce packaging size and increase the use of recycled materials. For instance, confectionery sharing bags now have 16% less packaging, and KitKat two finger wrappers are using up to 80% recycled polypropylene.
Nestlé acknowledges that all packaging accounts for 11.7% of the GHG emissions in its net zero commitment. By the end of 2023, 83.5% of Nestlé plastic packaging was designed for recycling, 41.5% of its packaging was made from recycled and/or renewable materials, and virgin plastic in its packaging had reduced by 14.9% since 2018.
Jodie Roussell, global public affairs lead for packaging and sustainability at Nestlé, emphasized the importance of plastic and the need for proper recycling infrastructure.
“We should not demonize plastic,” Roussell explained. “The issue lies in the lack of infrastructure and recycling capabilities.”
Nestlé has collaborated with industry partners to develop sustainable packaging solutions, such as recyclable paper wrappers for Smarties and Quality Street. The company is also transitioning its packaging materials to be more recyclable, with Nescafé Gold Frothy Coffee sachets expected to be 100% recyclable by the end of 2025.
In the realm of recycling, Nestlé is committed to supporting the development of effective collection and recovery schemes. The company has partnered with organizations like Berry Global to advance recycling technologies and infrastructure.
Looking ahead, Nestlé is advocating for the implementation of producer-led Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes and Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) for beverage containers. The company is dedicated to driving sustainability across its operations and working towards a circular economy for packaging materials.
In conclusion, Nestlé is actively pursuing sustainable packaging solutions, promoting recycling initiatives, and collaborating with industry partners to reduce its environmental impact. Through innovation, partnership, and advocacy, Nestlé is committed to advancing food and drink sustainability for a greener future.
