By the year 2025, Swiss food company Nestlé aims to make its packaging solely out of recyclable or reusable materials. Photo: theaelix, flickr.com

Nestlé is making all their packaging recyclable

Packaging made of plastics plays an important role in the food industry: They protect the product, preserve shelf-lives and make transportation easier. Nonetheless, food company Nestlé sees it as their responsibility to reduce the influence of their packaging on the environment and is working on optimising the packaging currently being used. At the same time, they aim to always use the smallest possible amount of packaging.

Nestlé is now steadily implementing the sustainability goals agreed on in April 2018. The Swiss company is working on making all their packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.

Consistent strategy

Plastics that are difficult to recycle will be gradually phased out of the assortment between 2020 and 2025. At the same time, Nestlé aims to increasingly use alternative packaging materials such as compostable paper-based and biodegradable materials – especially in countries which still lack the necessary recycling infrastructure.

Photo: Marco Verch, wuestenigel/flickr.com

From February 2019, Nestlé’s Nesquik beverage packaging comes equipped with paper straws in the test markets Dominican Republic and Brazil. Photo: Marco Verch, wuestenigel/flickr.com

The Smarties tubes are among the first non-plastic confectionery packaging at Nestlé. In 2005, the standard tube was already produced without the use of plastic. Now, the jumbo tubes, multi-packs and mini-packaging that house the colourful chocolate drops will follow.

In addition, plastic straws for beverages will gradually be replaced by alternatives from February 2019. The first test market is the Dominican Republic, followed by Brazil. During the pilot project, Nesquik beverage packaging will exclusively be available with paper-based straws on both markets. In the second half of 2019, Nestlé will tackle the packaging of Yes cake bars.

A global assignment

The company is not the only one taking these measures. Global players world-wide are increasingly deciding to make their packaging even more recyclable, biodegradable or compostable and are thus countering the unnecessary production of waste.

And all parties involved agree: A strategy against marine litter and for the prevention of waste can only be globally successful if it involves every stakeholder in economics, politics and NGOs as well as consumers. At the same time, it is necessary to create reasonable conditions and infrastructures.