Nestlé Canada joins global initiative to reduce carbon footprint

Nestlé, the world's biggest food company, is laying out a global roadmap to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and plans to spend US$3.6 billion to achieve its goals.

As part of the global announcement, Nestlé Canada outlined initiatives that are in line with recent commitments made by the Canadian federal government to achieve its target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The phased-approach aims to halve the company’s global emissions by 2030, and to realize net zero by 2050. To accomplish this, the company said it "will accelerate current initiatives, evolve its operations, and uncover ways to balance remaining emissions through high-quality carbon removal projects and innovation."

According to Associated Press, Nestlé plans to spend 3.2 billion Swiss francs (US$3.6 billion) over five years to improve its climate footprint

As a signatory of the UN ‘Business Ambition for 1.5°C’ pledge, Nestlé says it is one of the first companies to share its detailed, time-bound plan and is doing so ahead of schedule. The company, which has come under fire in the past for its actions critics say contribute to environmental destruction and global warming, will provide annual updates on its global efforts.

“As the largest food and beverage company in the world, we are in a position to make a significant contribution to improving the health of our planet,” Jeff Hamilton, president & CEO, Nestlé Canada's said in a release. “To tackle climate change, we are committed to accelerating our efforts in Canada across three areas – within our operations, with the ingredients we use and with our packaging.”

Highlights from Nestlé Canada include:

Carbon neutrality

Brands will invest in a mix of renewable energy, packaging, operational improvement and high-quality offset projects. Several of Nestlé’s brands including Garden of Life, Perrier, S. Pellegrino, Acqua Panna and Nespresso have made commitments to achieve carbon neutrality by 2022.

Manufacturing, operations and logistics

Some key highlights within Nestlé Canada’s operations include:

• As part of efforts to move towards carbon neutrality, Nestlé Canada says it has reduced CO2 in its logistics operations over the last six years by 22%, exceeding its goal by 10%. This reduction reflects improvements in transportation, warehousing, waste disposal, water, electricity, refrigerants, oils and steel recycling.


• Nestlé Canada has reduced its GHG rate by 33%, saving approximately 6,100 tonnes of CO2 emissions since 2010.


• By the end of 2020, 100% of Nestlé Canada’s manufacturing and distribution facilities will achieve zero waste to landfill.


• Since 2017, Nestlé Canada has reduced its food waste rate on average of 14% in its factories and is saving an estimated 218 tons of food waste.

Ingredients

Nestlé Canada is partnering with industry experts and suppliers to reduce the carbon footprint of its most emissions-intensive ingredients, ensuring that a more sustainable supply of natural resources and raw ingredients is used in its products.

Packaging

Nestlé says its "vision is that none of its packaging, including plastics, ends up in landfill or as litter in waterways. Currently, 87% of its packaging is recyclable or reusable and Nestlé will continue to make progress on its efforts to make 100% of its packaging reusable or recyclable by 2025."

• Nestlé Good Start Infant Formula is now available in recyclable cans.


• Nestlé Real Dairy Ice Cream is one of the first recyclable ice cream containers in Canada.


• All Boost ready-to-drink 237ml meal replacement drinks (High Protein, Original, Plus Calories and Diabetic) have moved to recyclable, reclosable Tetra Prisma packaging.


• Smarties packaging will remove plastic material from its portfolio and fully transition to responsibly sourced paper in 2021.


• Nescafé Sweet & Creamy will move from plastic packaging to a recyclable carton in 2021 and beyond.

Nestlé said the targets and its efforts to achieve them would be monitored by the independent Science Based Targets initiative.

- With files from Associated Press