(PRNewswire) Nestlé recently unveiled details about how it will work to make 100 percent of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025, with a particular focus on avoiding plastic-waste. In December Nestlé announced the creation of its Institute of Packaging Sciences to evaluate and develop various sustainable packaging materials and to collaborate with industrial partners to develop new packaging materials and solutions.
Between 2020 and 2025, the company states that it will phase out all plastics that are not recyclable or difficult to recycle by:
- Eliminating all plastic straws from its products, using alternative materials like paper.
- Nestlé will also start rolling out paper packaging for Nesquik in the first quarter of 2019 and for the Yes! snack bar in the second half of 2019.
- Smarties will start rolling out plastic-free packaging in 2019 and Milo will introduce paper-based pouches in 2020.
- Nestlé Waters will increase the recycled PET content in its bottles to 35 percent by 2025 at the global level and will reach 50 percent in the United States, with a specific focus on its Poland Spring brand.
- Nestlé Institute of Packaging Sciences is exploring new paper-based materials and biodegradable/compostable polymers that are also recyclable, among other alternatives.
- Nestlé is also collaborating with Danimer Scientific to develop a marine biodegradable and recyclable bottle for its water business.
- Furthermore, Nestlé initiated a collaboration with PureCycle Technologies to produce food-grade recycled Polypropylene (PP). PureCycle Technologies is commercializing ground-breaking recycling technologies which can remove color, odor and contaminants from plastic waste feedstock in order to transform it into virgin-like resin. Polypropylene is a polymer commonly used for packing food in trays, tubs, cups and bottles.
- Nestlé has become the first food company to partner with Project STOP, which was launched in 2017 to prevent the leakage of plastic into the ocean by developing partnerships with cities and governments in Southeast Asia.
- All 4,200 Nestlé facilities worldwide are committed to eliminating single-use plastic items that cannot be recycled.
- Nestlé employees in all locations worldwide and at all levels will dedicate their volunteering days to the removal of litter and participate in clean-up activities on World Ocean Day on June 8, 2019.
