The company is piloting refillable vending machines for its Milo and Koko Krunch cereals to contribute towards the reduction of disposable packaging
The new machines will be available at two local retailers in Indonesia during this four-to-six-month trial period. (Credit: Nestlé)
Swiss food and drink company Nestlé has announced a pilot programme of refillable vending machines for Milo and Koko Krunch cereals in Indonesia.
Working in partnership with the start-up Qyos by Algramo, the programme intends to explore new solutions for the reduction of disposable packaging.
Nestlé said the new machines will be available at two local retailers in Indonesia during a four-to-six-month trial period.
Under the programme, customers will have the option to bring their own containers, or they can purchase containers that are available at each of the locations.
They can digitally access product details, including ingredients, nutritional information, and shelf life through a QR code on the packaging.
The vending machines were developed by the packaging team at Nestlé R&D centres in Singapore and Switzerland in collaboration with the Nestlé teams in Indonesia, as well as the start-up.
According to the food and drink company, the teams ensured that the refillable systems preserve product safety and freshness throughout the supply chain. Using their expertise, the teams considered the local context, like the Indonesian region’s hot and humid climate.
Nestlé R&D Packaging head Gaelle de Mestral said: “We are actively exploring innovative, alternative delivery systems such as bulk, reuse and refill options across several product categories.
“By undertaking this second pilot for Milo and Koko Krunch, we’ll be able to gain new insights that can be applied to our products, as well as further assess the refillable system’s effectiveness in preventing packaging waste along the supply chain.”
Nestlé also conducted a trial in South Jakarta in 2021, in which the Swiss company piloted reusable and refillable containers for Milo, Dancow and Koko Krunch.
Consumers in South Jakarta had the option to buy the products from tricycle carts fitted with refillable dispensing systems.
Nestlé claimed that the results from the pilot programme resulted in valuable insights that supported the second phase of the pilot where people can purchase Milo and Koko Krunch in two retail locations.