The future for Nestlé's R&D is firmly set on the path of Nutrition, Health and Wellness. The innovations and product renovations of the coming years will be driven by nutrition that is tailored to better meet the needs to our consumers. These needs may be defined by our genes, the metabolites that our body creates or by the way the brain perceives food. At the same time Nestlé R&D is committed to continuous improvement in consumer insights, and translating these into innovative products and packaging to meet consumer needs and preferences.
Reduction in environmental impact of packaging
Key consumer benefit: Lightweight packaging
Nestlé is committed to reducing the environmental impact of packaging without jeopardising the safety, quality or consumer acceptance of its products.
Nestlé is constantly reducing the weight and volume of packaging materials, and uses recycled materials wherever possible. Over the long term the company is also committed to research and development that will enable it to use materials from sustainably-managed renewable resources.
Lightweight packaging brings a number of challenges, such as how to provide strength in thin walled PET containers. Nestlé scientists have invented PLOC (Packaging Low Weight Ovoid Container), a new one-piece packaging concept for 'on-the-go' consumption. PLOC was invented at PTC Vittel our R&D Centre focused on Water with world class expertise & equipment in PET technology. PTC Lisieux has adapted the PLOC development to create pouches for Nestlé Chilled Dairy products. The new pouches weigh less than half of regular pouches, and being made of PET they can be recycled.
Kansei Engineering: Nestlé embraces the Kansei design method
Key consumer benefits: Attractive packaging
Nestlé has been exploring the opportunities that the Kansei engineering approach brings to packaging design, with the support of Professor Nagamachi as well as Design Perspectives from Faraday, and has done pioneering work in applying this technique to package design. Today, Kansei is one of the specific tools in Nestlé’s Packaging and Design toolbox for consumer centric development.
Further reading: Kansei Engineering: Nestlé embraces the Kansei design method for a better emotional connection with consumers (pdf, 45 kb)
Functional Genomics and gene expression
Key consumer benefits: Health (Healthy Ageing, Protection, Physical and Mental Performance)
By studying the function, interaction and dynamics of genes in the genome, including their interactions with diet we are able to build an accurate picture of how genes interactive with nutrition. The following example is aimed at reducing symptoms rather than acting as a preventive measure.
Example in Petcare: Nestlé Purina JM (Joint Mobility™) Canine Formula
Key consumer benefits: Health (Healthy Ageing)
The expression of certain genes associated with inflammation in osteoarthritis provided scientists with some biological targets for developing a diet that could better manage the disease. The results is healthier, happier dogs...and owners.
Further reading: Nestlé Research Collaborates with Leading Research Institutions to Link Genetics with Taste Perception 
Metabonomics – What metabolic profile are you?
Key consumer benefits: Health (Weight management, Protection and Performance)
Metabonomics concerns the processes that are taking place in our bodies, as living systems. The results are used to understand the role of genetics, behavioural and environmental factors on metabolism. We can then define the metabolic phenotype of an individual which helps us to tailor nutrition.
Further reading: Chocolate’s metabolic signature discovered by Nestlé scientists
Biovailability of Nutrients
Key consumer benefits: Health (Growth and Development, Performance, Protection)
Increasing the bioavailability of a nutrient means allowing it to be absorbed by the body more easily. Chinese wolfberry is the richest known natural source of zeaxanthin, an important antioxidant. By combining this with milk, the carrier system, the nutrients become more bioavailable. This was demonstrated in a collaborative research project – between R&D Shanghai and the Hong Kong Polytechnic Technical University. The technology is now being successfully applied Nestlé rice porridge, available in Malaysia.
Further reading: Bioavailabilty of Nutrients (pdf, 700kb) and Bioavailabilty: Nutrients for the Skin (pdf, 800kb)
Personalised nutrition – Getting to know the consumer better
Key consumer benefits: Health
In the past we have segmented our consumers by their age and by their taste. Today we know more about consumers, their desires, physiology and nutritional requirements – we are therefore able to become more focused. By learning more about individual groups or sectors of society we can tailor our products to meet exact needs.
Example in Petcare: Longevis Pro Plan Vital Age 7+
Key consumer benefits: Health (Healthy Ageing)
Key consumer group: Pets in later lifestages
The example here refers to the recent launch of the petfood Pro Plan Vital Age 7+ with Longevis which has been shown to significantly increase the lifespan of aging cats. With age, a cat’s body cells lose the ability to repair and regenerate themselves. This effect is accumulative and can shorten the cat’s life. The antioxidants in Pro Plan Vital Age 7+ increase cell defences and speed up repair. They also help to protect skin against damaging external environmental factors. Prebiotics withi the food supply nutrients to the intestinal microflora and encourage healthy digestion and immunity. The polyunsaturated linoleic acid improves skin and coat quality and further protects the body during ageing. The product is completed with protein and phosphorus to maintain muscle mass and kidney function. Visit the Purina ProPlan website
Example in Healthcare Nutrition: Clinutren range of products
Key consumer benefits: Health (Healthy Recovery), Taste and Convenience
Key consumer group: Elderly and recovering patients
Malnutrition is both a cause and a consequence of illness. Numerous clinical studies have shown that malnutrition affects 25% to 50% of hospital patients and 30% of elderly people living at home in countries with a high standard of living. Malnutrition has a direct impact on the quality and the speed of the patients' recovery and increases the time spent in hospital by a factor of 2 to 4. Clinutren products take into consideration the taste distortion that occurs with specific diseases and recovery. For cancer patients, for example, the threshold for sweetness is elevated versus the bitter one, which is depressed. Although the goal of oral nutritional supplements are to deliver nutrition it is paramount that it also tastes good - thus understanding the individual changes that take place in patients is a priority. Visit the Nestlé Nutrition Healthcare website