Amid pandemic, Nestlé PH accelerates plastic waste initiatives, pushes EPR
Despite the difficulties and uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic this year, Nestlé Philippines has maintained a single-minded focus on exercising leadership in tackling plastic waste by achieving first-ever milestones, including being the first multinational fast-moving consumer goods or FMCG company to bat for a legislated Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR scheme for plastic waste in the country.
“The problem of plastic waste is one that we are deeply concerned about and it involves all of us,” said Nestlé Philippines Chairman and CEO Kais Marzouki, “We know that plastic waste must be addressed, and it is for this reason our vision at Nestlé is that none of our packaging, including plastics, ends up in landfills, oceans, or as litter. To make this happen, we are striving for our packaging to be 100 percent recyclable or reusable by 2025, and to reduce the use of virgin plastic by a third.”
Nestlé Philippines is identifying alternative materials to make its packaging more sustainable. Early this year, the company started its transition to the use of paper straws in its locally manufactured ready-to-drink products that will eliminate the use of 130 MT of plastic straws by end of year.
In order to achieve its ambition, Nestlé Philippines is focusing on three key areas. The first is to develop the packaging for the future – to ensure that its packaging is designed to be recycled – to explore and implement packaging and delivery innovations, and to reduce plastic use. The second is to increase collection and recycling. The third is to drive new behavior and understanding towards waste avoidance and proper solid waste management.
Accelerating its efforts to address the plastics challenge, the company is the first food and beverage manufacturer in the country to switch from plastic to paper straws for its locally manufactured, ready-to-drink products this year. Aside from this major milestone, it has also removed polybags for MAGGI Magic Sarap, MILO, and KOKO KRUNCH, decreasing plastic use by 800 metric tons. In addition, Nestlé has research centers across the world as well as a packaging institute based in Switzerland that are conducting research on packaging innovations including alternative materials.
With regard to increasing awareness and encouraging proper waste management, Nestlé Philippines has developed solid waste management modules that will be rolled out in 10,000 public schools this school year. These modules are the first to be endorsed by the Department of Education, and the National Solid Waste Management Commission of the Office of the President, the leading agency for waste management.
Nestlé Philippines Chairman and CEO Kais Marzouki (center right) leads volunteers in a seaside clean-up at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area.
Also, this year, Nestlé Philippines has achieved its biggest milestone yet in tackling plastic waste by becoming the first multinational FMCG company in the country to achieve plastic neutrality in the months of August, September, October, and November. In those months it collected and processed the equivalent amounts of plastics it put out into the market with its product packaging, totaling 9,232 metric tons. “Together with cement companies and NGOs as our partners, we collect all types of soft plastics regardless of producer. We are doing this as an immediate and urgent measure to help stop leakage into the oceans. We are committed to maintaining plastic neutrality. We hope that other companies will do the same,” Mr. Marzouki said.
He emphasized that collaboration and collective action on plastic waste are vital. “This is especially true if we are to move forward, especially in transforming how packaging is managed after use. We think that we need to build a circular economy, a system that seeks to eliminate waste and enable continuous use of resources. In order to do that, all plastic producers and importers must assume responsibility over post-consumer waste within the framework of a mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility scheme,” he said further.
Republic Cement President and CEO Nabil Francis (left) and Nestlé Philippines Chairman and CEO Kais Marzouki (right) at the Republic plant in Norzagaray, Bulacan where plastic waste is co-processed. Co-processing is the reuse or recovery of thermal and mineral properties of qualified waste materials while manufacturing cement in a single, combined operation.
EPR is an environmental policy approach implemented around the world in which producers take responsibility for their products even after use by the consumer. Under an EPR scheme for plastic waste, importers and manufacturers, through a non-profit organization called a Producer Responsibility Organization or PRO, will pay a fee that will be used to manage the equivalent amounts of waste from the packaging of companies.
“Looking back at our milestones this year, we know there is much more to be done. As we search for alternatives and ways to reduce plastics use, as we invest in education, and as we work together to collect more of the plastics we put out into the market, we can stop leakage into the oceans, increase recycling rates, and promote a circular economy. We will continue to advocate a holistic approach and collaborate with other stakeholders as we pursue our journey towards a waste-free future,” Mr. Marzouki said.
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