The latest news from Nestlé is its recently-announced aim to achieve 100% recyclable or re-usable packaging by 2025. If this goes to plan, none of its packaging – plastics included – should end up in landfill or as litter.
It plans to achieve this objective through three core strategies: eliminating non-recyclable plastics; encouraging the use of plastic that allow better recycling rates; and eliminating or changing complex combinations of packaging materials.
All this is part of Nestlé’s avowed intention to support a circular economy. According to CEO Mark Schneider: "Plastic waste is one of the biggest sustainability issues the world is facing today. Tackling it requires a collective approach. We are committed to finding improved solutions to reduce, re-use and recycle. Our ambition is to achieve 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025."
This follows the company’s announcement of another socially responsible initiative: to use science to ‘restructure’ the sugar it uses in its confectionery in order to produce a chocolate bar – the Milkybar Wowsomes – with 30% less sugar than its usual milkybar brand.
Nestlé has been dogged with controversy in the past – such as with the famous ‘baby milk’ scandal of the 1970s. Such initiatives can perhaps, then, be framed as an ongoing mission to shake off the past and embrace a healthier, more sustainable future.
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