Nestlé Institute to Develop Futuristic Packaging

LAUSANNE, Switzerland—Nestlé wants to develop more environmentally friendly packaging for its products and has created a research institute to find new ways to reduce plastic waste and produce wrapping materials that are easier to recycle, reports Reuters.

“It’s our name on the package, so we want to be in the driver’s seat when it comes to developing solutions,” said Mark Schneider, CEO, Nestlé, at the inauguration of the Nestlé Institute of Packaging Sciences in Lausanne.

The maker of KitKat chocolate bars and Nescafé instant coffee has vowed to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. The institute’s 50 employees will collaborate with team members at Nestlé’s research center, plus external scientists and start-ups. During a recent tour of the institute, scientists showed off water bottles made entirely from recycled materials. The company declined to disclose the size of its investment in sustainability research, but officials said that technologies developed by the institute could be licensed to third parties.

“We made an important upfront investment, so of course, we’ll ultimately want to see higher consumer sales or royalties,” Schneider said.

Nestlé also wants to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Alternative packaging materials and more plant-based food and drinks with a better environmental footprint would help the company reach that goal. Tree planting, an improved dairy supply chain and 100% renewable electricity are also part of the plan.

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