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Working towards a waste-free future

Clean beach

With plastic waste continuing to accumulate in landfills and in our oceans, endangering wildlife, tackling the problem has never been so urgent. As the largest food and beverage company, we want to play our part. We are accelerating our actions when it comes to tackling the plastic waste problem.

We are making progress but there is much more to come. You can count on us to be a leader in this space.

Our vision and commitment

Our vision is that none of our packaging, including plastics, ends up in landfill or as litter. Our vision is not just some lofty ideal - we are working hard to deliver on it and help to achieve a waste-free future.

We announced last year our commitment to making 100% of our packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. In January 2019, we set out our broader vision for a waste-free future, and announced a series of specific actions to meet our commitment.

While we are committed to pursuing recycling options where feasible, we know that 100% recyclability is not enough to successfully tackle the plastics waste problem. 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. For example, we believe in the value of recyclable and compostable paper-based materials and biodegradable polymers, in places where recycling infrastructure does not exist.

Our actions

Addressing the complex problem of plastic pollution requires taking an inclusive and joined-up approach. To realize this objective, specific actions are required. In line with this approach, we are taking tangible steps in:

1. Pioneering alternative materials

 
  • Creation of the Nestlé Institute for Packaging Sciences to develop sustainable packaging materials and collaborate with industry partners to scale-up research and innovation. Through the Institute, we are currently exploring a range of innovations, including new paper-based materials as well as biodegradable/compostable polymers that are also recyclable.
  • The roll-out of paper-based packaging globally for Nesquik in the first quarter of 2019, and for the Yes! snackbar in the second half of 2019. Smarties will also start rolling out plastic free, paper-based packaging in 2019 and Milo will introduce paper-based pouches in 2020.
  • We’ve committed to phase out all plastics that are non-recyclable or hard to recycle for all our products worldwide by 2025. (pdf, 50Kb)

    As part of this commitment, starting in February 2019, we began eliminating all plastic straws from our products

    Nestlé Waters has committed to increase the recycled PET content in its bottles to 35% globally by 2025. It will reach 50% in the United States by 2025, with specific focus on Poland Spring, and 50% in its European brands Acqua Panna, Buxton, Henniez and Levissima by 2025.
  • We have launched a global partnership with Danimer Scientific to develop a marine biodegradable and recyclable bottle for its water business.
  • Recognizing the challenges in getting food-grade quality recycled materials, we have started a collaboration with PureCycle Technologies to produce food-grade recycled polypropylene.
  • We have joined NaturALL Bottle Alliance, which aims to develop 100% bio-based PET to be used for our water business.
 

2. Shaping a waste-free future

 
  • We’re partnering with Project STOP, a frontline initiative aimed at addressing the leakage of plastic into the ocean, through partnerships with cities and governments in Southeast Asia. Our first Project STOP pilot is in Indonesia.
  • We signed The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, an initiative led jointly by The Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UN Environment, to promote and encourage progress in tackling the plastic waste problem.

    We’re working with the Loop organization to develop reusable packaging. Haagen-Dazs is the first brand to pilot this project, scheduled to launch in the first half 2019.
  • We’re partnering with Veolia to work on waste collection, sorting and recycling of plastic material, with a particular emphasis on flexible plastic packaging. The partnership will also explore technologies to establish viable models of recycling in different countries. This includes chemical recycling technologies, which will help Nestlé to increase the recycled content of its bottled water packaging to 35% and its overall product packaging to 15% by 2025.
  • Together with other companies, we’ve just launched the Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance to develop the recycling infrastructure across Sub-Saharan Africa – and creating jobs in the process.
 

3. Driving new behavior

 
  • All 4,200 Nestlé facilities worldwide are eliminating single-use plastic items that cannot be recycled.
  • Our employees worldwide are dedicating their volunteering days to the removal of litter and will be participating in clean-up activities on World Oceans Day (June 8th). For more information on how you can get involved, check out the World Oceans Day website.