Driving down waste water volumes

The Nestlé Environmental Minimum Technical Requirements explicitly define the need for at least one waste water reduction project for every factory. The goal is to minimise waste water production while maximising the recycling of the waste water produced. 25% of all water consumed by Nestlé is used for cooling. Of that, one-quarter is only “borrowed” from local rivers for a short time and immediately returned as unpolluted “process water,” on average 2O °C. warmer than the source water. Although the environmental impact is considered minimal, it is continuously monitored. The remaining waste water is recycled in several ways for:

• Cooling and heating in closed-loop circuits with regenerative heat-exchangers or by use of cooling towers
• Irrigation of plant or public premises in the vicinity of factories or used by farmers for crop production
• Constructed wetlands installed, in particular, around Nestlé Waters USA plants as part of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDS) certification. These wetlands serve as natural water cleaners and create habitats for many animal and plant species.
• High-quality fertilizer whenever this is feasible and when it meets strict quality criteria as a sustainable use of resources. Because Nestlé uses no harmful chemicals in its processes, the bio-solids from its waste water sludge is considered usable.