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Nestlé targets 5% increase in packaging recyclability by 2015

Nestlé in looking to make 95% of its packaging in the UK and Ireland recyclable in the next five years, up from 90% today.

In its 2010 Creating Shared Value Report, Nestlé has introduced a raft of new sustainability targets for 2015 including a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and a 10% increase in renewable energy usage.


On packaging, the food giant said it wanted to increase the recyclability of its packaging from 90% to 95% over the next five years as well as remove all plastic inserts from Easter eggs.


The report also highlights Nestlé's work to reduce the amount of packaging it uses – a 12.6% reduction in 2009 – and its contribution to schemes such as Valpak and the Courtauld Commitment.


"A good example is the effort we put into reducing Christmas and Easter packaging and helping consumers to recycle more easily by replacing plastic inserts with cardboard trays," said head of packaging Ralf Fiala in the report.


"We listened to our consumers and went back to basics, using traditional materials and modern technology to come up with sustainable solutions that have been appreciated by the public."

NESTLE PACKAGING FIGURES


90% of packaging is recyclable
90% of Easter eggs have no plastic inserts
30-50% reduction in weight of small and medium-sized Easter eggs since 2006
40% reduction in weight of medium-sized and large Christmas selection boxes since 2007