Nestlé Nigeria has introduced new bottles including fifty percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), effectively reducing the use of virgin plastics in its packaging by 50%. This milestone in the company’s journey towards 100% plastics neutrality also ensures the last mile for plastics circularity.
Engr. Chukwudi Nwabuisiaku, Assistant Director (Food & Beverage/Plastic Waste Control) Inspection & Enforcement Department, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA
Mrs. Joy Abdullahi-Johnson, Category and Marketing Manager, Nestlé Waters.
Mrs. Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Nestlé Nigeria.
Mr. Wissam Ramwali, Managing Director, Alef Recycling Company.
Mr. Francis C Onuorah, Director, Chemical and No- Petrochemicals, Industrial Development Department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment
Mr Olawale Alao, Factory Manager, Nestlé Abaji Factory.
Mr. Eugene Atte, Packaging Manager, Nestlé Central and West Africa Region.
Speaking on the journey towards plastics neutrality and the significance of 50% rPET inclusion in the Nestlé Pure Life bottles, Mr. Wassim, Elhusseini, MD/CEO of Nestlé Nigeria PLC said, “Since 2018, Nestlé Nigeria has been working with partners to recover as much plastic as we sell, based on a “one tonne in, one tonne out” principle. In 2021, we started on the step by teaming up with ALEF, to achieve our objective of cutting virgin plastic in our packaging by a third by 2025. Today, we are very proud to be the first to achieve this milestone of 50% rPET inclusion in our water bottles in Nigeria, thanks to the resilience of our team working with ALEF to produce food grade rPET in Nigeria. I also recognise and commend the regulatory agencies – NESREA, SON and NAFDAC who have ensured compliance to the highest standards.”
Nestlé Nigeria has been at the forefront of efforts to develop well-functioning collection, sorting and recycling systems for PET in Nigeria, from the introduction of innovative bottles to collaborating with other stakeholders for increased collection while building an eco-system for recycling. ALEF was instrumental to achieving the 50% rPET in Nestlé Pure Life bottles.
Mr. Wissam Ramlawi, Managing Director of ALEF Recycling Company said, “This has been a long, rigorous journey for us, working with Nestlé’s technical and quality assurance teams to comply with Nestle’s very demanding standards and procedures. We also had the pleasure of working with regulators and our suppliers to achieve the desired food-grade quality standards for rPET”.
For Nestlé Pure Life, achieving 50% rPET in the bottles aligns with the brand’s purpose. The Category and Marketing Manager, Nestlé Waters, Joy Abdulahi- Johnson said, “Because of our dedication to rigorous safety processes for all our products, it has taken almost 2 years of painstaking diligence to launch the new rPET bottle. In addition to consumer safety, we are always taking steps to minimise the impact of our production process on the environment. This launch could not have come at a better time as we are also introducing the new global identity for Nestlé Pure Life. As a brand, we are evolving for good.”
In his remark, the Honourable Minister for environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal said, we commend such strategies that support environmental sustainability, reduce already huge strain on natural resources while building local economies.
Nestlé is committed to increasing the amount of rPET it uses across its brands globally. In Nigeria, it is the first to achieve rPET inclusion in its Water brand. For more information on Nestlé’s sustainability efforts, please visit https://www.nestle.com/sustainability/waste–reduction/actions–plastic–pollution
