Packaging is essential for food safety and freshness, and it also provides consumers with nutritional and environmental information at point of purchase.
Communicating environmental information on our packaging
We provide our consumers and business partners with clear, accurate environmental information based on scientific evidence. Different means exist to communicate this information efficiently. One option is the packaging itself. For example, our new NaturNes baby food pot shows that it requires less energy and produces fewer CO2 emissions than the previous version - over its life cycle from farm to spoon and including recovery of packaging. This results from the weight reduction achieved by replacing a glass jar with a plastic pot, as well as energy savings from the new manufacturing process and the energy recovered from used plastic pots. It has been substantiated by a Life Cycle Assessment, which follows the latest methods established in international standards (ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006) and has been reviewed by a panel of four external experts.
Browse the NatureNes slideshow
Packaging and the Environment
Nestlé is firmly committed to finding packaging solutions that contribute to a better environment. The company supports an integrated approach that favours source reduction, reuse, recycling and energy recovery. Wherever possible Nestlé uses recyclable packaging materials, including alternative innovative materials from renewable resources. Read our Easter Egg recycling case study.
Packaging Source Reduction
In 1991 Nestlé initiated a continuous review and assessment of packaging source reduction opportunities. As a result, packaging material savings from 1991 to 2007 amounted to 326 300 tonnes and CHF 583.7 million on a worldwide basis. We have reduced the volume of packaging material used per litre of bottled water by 22% over the last 6 years, saving 257 000 tonnes of packaging material.
Packaging Waste Recovery
Several countries, especially in Europe, have established national waste recovery schemes for the collection, separation and recovery of used packaging. Nestlé has participated actively in setting up and managing these schemes. Nestlé use recycled material whenever it makes sense and it is legally permitted.
Nestlé is winning awards
We continue to investigate and use renewable resources : Nestlé was the first company in Europe to introduce a new biodegradable alternative to plastic for use in packaging of manufactured food products. Our leadership role in this area has been widely recognised: The Dairy Box biodegradable tray made from renewable resources won the Silver Star and "Best in Category" as "Best Packaging Innovation leading to a significant reduction in household waste" by The British Institute of Packaging, and the first place in the 'Environmental' category of the UK Packaging Awards 2006. The plantic tray is made from renewable resources and is biodegradable; it disintegrates in a compost heap and dissolves when in contact with water. For further information about the Plantic biodegradable tray please visit the Plantic Biodegradable Plastic FAQs.
In adition our development of innovative retail packaging uses 30% less material and has a higher compressive strength, even under monsoon conditions. The new tray and cover for Milo pouches received the Malaysia Star Packaging Award from FMM Packaging Council of Malaysia for higher production efficiency, lower cost and less waste.
Read our Perrier Vittel PET case study.