Recycling remains top of the agenda for Nestlé

Nestlé UK and Ireland is highlighting Recycle Week (21^st-27^th September) and supporting WRAP’s message of recycling together in the community.

The global pandemic and the UK lockdown has focused people’s attention on to the planet, and local councils saw a 34% increase in household recycling during this time.

This year Nestlé has continued to make progress on its ambition to have 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. In June, Smarties sharing block in recyclable paper packaging was launched. The packaging is made from a coated paper that is widely recyclable and is the first time the technology Nestlé pioneered to launch its YES! bars - enabling paper to be used on high speed production lines previously designed for plastic or laminate packaging – has been used for such widescale production.

This week, Nestlé Waters have also announced a partnership with waste management business, Biffa. The two businesses will be working together to create the rPET needed for Nestlé Waters to achieve the commitment that every Buxton bottle will be made from 100% rPET by the end of 2021

Group Packaging Manager at Nestlé UK and Ireland, Alison Bramfitt said: “We are very proud to be supporting Recycle Week in the UK. The issue of packaging waste is one that we all have a role to play in tackling and recycling is a critical part.  We are working hard to create a circular life span for our packaging so it can have multiple lives and uses.

“We are still very much committed to our 2025 ambition – to have 100% of our packaging recyclable or re-usable. The vision is that none of our packaging, including plastics, ends up in landfill or as litter. We are making progress, in 2019, about 87% of Nestlé’s total packaging by weight and 66% of our total plastic packaging was already recyclable or reusable, but we recognise there is still a lot more to do.

“In June, we went ahead with our launch of Smarties sharing block in recyclable paper packaging, despite the pandemic; an important demonstration of our intent in this area.

“What the Covid-19 crisis has shown us is how agile and adaptable our people can be- designers from our Product Technology Centre switched their skills and focus to producing visors for key workers across York. This shows a real innovation we can use as we look at developing our packaging over the next few years.

“As we look towards 2025, we will continue to work with relevant authorities and infrastructure developments to ensure our packaging can be recycled or re-used. After the pandemic, as we move towards a green recovery, people will continue to become more aware of their local environment and packaging will shift back in focus to become more important than ever.”

As well as Buxton and Smarties announcing changes, Nespresso Boutique removed their plastic stirrers, Nesquik moved to a recyclable can and both Nescafé and Buxton have moved to 50% recycled plastic in their shrink wrap.

Recycle Week in the UK is organised by WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme, and runs from Monday 21st to 27th September.

Peter Maddox, Director, WRAP UK, said: “It’s fantastic to see that despite everything that has been thrown at us this year, more people than ever are taking responsibility for protecting the environment by choosing to recycle. This is something we can all do, wherever we live – an individual action that, when performed by everyone, adds up to a huge change. 

“Recycle Week this year is an opportunity to thank everyone for continuing to recycle, whatever their circumstances and to celebrate the way we have all pulled together. There has been a positive leap forward in attitudes that we must capitalise on so we can do even better in the coming year.” 

Nestlé is a founding member of The Plastics Pact a unique collaboration of business, NGOs and Government working to transform the plastic packaging system in the UK and keep plastic in the economy and out of the ocean.