EUROPE – Nestlé, a Swiss transnational food and drink company, has pledged to make a significant increase in the amount of recycled plastics it uses in some of its packaging in the European Union.
By 2025, bottles, PET layer in laminates, caps on glass jars and tins, trays for meat products and shrink films for display trays will all contain at least between 25% and 50% recycled material, depending on the packaging type.
Nestlé’s announcement has contributed to the voluntary pledging exercise on recycled content by the European Commission.
Nestlé has again been recognized as one of the most engaged companies in the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.
Announced at UN Headquarters in New York at the start of the UN General Assembly week, Nestlé was reconfirmed as a Global Compact LEAD company.
The pledge comes following Nestlé’s global packaging ambition announced in April this year, where the company aims to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or re-usable by 2025.
“I am proud that we are already taking first concrete steps to achieve our packaging ambitions,” said Marco Settembri, Nestlé CEO for Zone Europe, Middle East and North Africa.
“Nestlé supports the Plastics Strategy of the European Union. We share the vision that no plastic packaging ends up in the environment.
Recyclable packaging, good recycling infrastructure and more use of recycled material will help us close the loop.”
Marco Settembri underlined Nestlé’s determination by handing over the pledge in person to the European Commission.
Nestlé has demonstrated its commitment to the UN Global Compact by sharing best practices and providing leadership in activities that support the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Each year Nestlé reports on its progress towards the UN Global Compact ten principles.
“The key to long-term success for our company is to create value for our shareholders and society.
We call this Creating Shared Value, which fully reflects the aims and goals of the UN Global Compact. We are proud to be a LEAD company,” said Christian Frutiger, Global Head Public Affairs, Nestlé.
Nestlé joined the UN Global Compact in 2001. It is proud to be part of a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders that are contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Nestlé’s priorities are in those areas where business interests most closely match those of society.
These include nutrition, with a special focus on children; developing thriving and resilient rural communities; and stewarding natural resources for the future, above all water.
