SWITZERLAND – Nestle has announced a global partnership with Danimer Scientific, a Georgia based biopolymer manufacturer to collaboratively develop biodegradable plastic bottles for Nestle’s water business.
Nestle will utilize Danimer’s PHA polymer Nodax™ (polyhydroxyalkanoates- PHA), used with other biopolymers to create a range of applications including biodegradable bottles.
Nodax is a proven biodegradable alternative to petrochemical plastics, which stays in the environment for too long to get extinct.
The collaboration, which is one step ahead in achieving Nestle’s 2018 ambitious goal to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025, may also allow PepsiCo, an existing partner of Danimer gain access to the resins developed under the partnership.
Nestlé Waters is committed to addressing the growing global plastic waste packaging issue.
Maurizio Patarnello, CEO of Nestlé Waters.
A biodegradable bottle, which is also recyclable, can help improve the environmental impact of our business in countries without collection and recycling systems.
PHA biodegrades in a wide range of environments, including industrial and home compost, soil, fresh and sea water, research has shown.
Danimer’s Nodax, its own patented range of biopolymers, is reliably biodegradable across both aerobic and anaerobic conditions and is suitable feedstock for industrial compost, home compost, and anaerobic digester facilities as well as reuse through recycling.
Nestle recently announced accelerated action to eliminate all hard-to or non-recyclable plastics from its products by 2025 with plans to roll out alternative packaging materials across its global product portfolio.
The company intends to introduce paper straws for its products starting February and also roll out paper packaging for Nesquik and Yes! snack bar by second half of 2019.
The road to sustainable packaging is aided by Nestle’s Institute of Packaging Sciences, created last December.
Strategic innovation partnerships play a key role for Nestlé as we make progress in improving the sustainability of our packaging.
Stefan Palzer, Chief Technology Officer for Nestlé.
In order to effectively address the plastic issue in various markets, we need a wide range of technological solutions, including new paper materials and biodegradable polymers which can also be recycled.
