Switzerland-based food and beverage company Nestlé has outlined its plan to achieve 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025.
As part of this effort, the firm plans to focus on three core areas including eliminating non-recyclable plastics; encouraging the use of plastics to allow better recycling rates; and removing changing complex combinations of packaging materials.
The firm said that the new mission is aimed at preventing packaging material ending up as waste in landfill or as litter, including in seas, oceans and waterways.
Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider said: “Plastic waste is one of the biggest sustainability issues the world is facing today. Tackling it requires a collective approach.
“We are committed to finding improved solutions to reduce, re-use and recycle. Our ambition is to achieve 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025.”
To help develop a circular economy, Nestlé said it will play an active role in the development of well-functioning collection, sorting and recycling schemes across the countries where it operates; as well as work with partners to explore different packaging solutions to help reduce plastic usage, facilitate recycling and develop new approaches to eliminate plastic waste.
Additionally, the firm intends to label its plastic product packaging with recycling information to help consumers dispose it in a right way and promote a market for recycled plastics by increasing the proportion of recycled plastics in packaging.
Earlier this year, Nestlé Waters North America bottled water brand Nestlé Pure Life Purified Water has launched a new 700mL bottle developed by using food grade recycled plastic (rPET).
The company intends to inspire consumers to recycle by debuting new bottles made entirely from recycled ones.
Since 2005, the company has reduced the amount of PET plastic in Nestlé Pure Life half-liter bottles by 40%.