Page 23 - Food & Drink March 2020

Panning the plastics
Nestlé says it will invest around AU$3 billion (CHF2 billion) to shift from virgin plastic to food-grade recycled plastics. Kim Berry writes.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
BUILDING on the launch of its Institute of Packaging Sciences, Nestlé has announced a major investment in food-grade recycled plastics research
as well as a sustainable packaging venture fund.
In 2018, the company said 100 per cent of its packaging would be recyclable or reusable by 2025. This announcement added that it would reduce its use of virgin plastics by one third in the same period.
To meet the new target, Nestlé will source up to two million metric tons of food- grade recycled plastics.
More than AU$2.2 billion (CHF1.5 billion) will be allocated to paying a premium
for materials between now and its 2025 deadline, Nestlé said.
CEO Mark Schneider says the new targets and venture fund will build on the company’s sustainability commitments and ultimately contribute to its goal of zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
For food and beverage manufacturers, the integrity and safety of products is paramount, and packaging plays a major role in that equation, he says.
“No plastic should end up in landfill or as litter. Making recycled plastics safe for food is an enormous challenge for our industry.
“That is why in addition to minimising plastics use and
collecting waste, we
want to close the
loop and make
more plastics
infinitely recyclable.
We are taking bold
steps to create a wider market for food-grade recycled plastics and boost innovation in the packaging industry.”
Through the packaging sciences institute, Nestlé will launch an AU$377 million (CHF250 million) sustainable packaging venture fund to invest in start-up companies that focus on packaging innovation, including new materials, refill systems and recycling solutions.
Nestlé Oceania head of
ABOVE: At the Nestlé Institute of Packaging Sciences, all eyes are on the prize of food-grade recycled plastics.
corporate affairs Margaret Stuart says the shift from virgin plastics to food-grade recycled plastics will be a “game changer”.
“Almost a third of packaging in our supply chain in Australia includes recycled content... The company-wide goal will not only increase the amount of recycled materials used by Nestlé, it will trigger action across the broader industry.” ✷
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