Nestlé, a global leader in food and beverages, has introduced significant advancements in paper packaging for several of its brands, including Nescafé and Vital Proteins, supporting its sustainability objectives. The company aims to minimize its environmental footprint and mitigate the impact of packaging waste on resources like water, soil, and biodiversity. These steps are part of a broader initiative to reduce carbon emissions from packaging, which is the second largest source of emissions for the company.
In 2020, Nestlé launched paper-based packaging for its confectionery brands such as Smarties and KitKat. The company faced challenges in maintaining product quality and freshness, especially for sensitive products. At that time, Nestlé focused on simpler packaging before progressing to more complex categories like coffee. This historical context highlights the company’s step-by-step approach to achieving its packaging goals.
Earlier, Nestlé’s sustainability efforts included a focus on plastic packaging, with targets to make 95% of its plastic packaging recyclable and to cut virgin plastic use by a third by 2025. These previous endeavors laid the groundwork for the current transition to paper-based solutions. The continuous evolution in their packaging strategy reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability.
Nescafé’s New Paper Packaging
Nestlé has recently rolled out a high-barrier paper refill pack for Nescafé in the UK, designed to reduce packaging waste by 97% while maintaining the product’s freshness and quality. This new packaging is recyclable in the local paper waste stream, aligning with Nestlé’s sustainability goals.
“When developing paper packaging, we consider each product’s sensitivity to external elements such as oxygen, temperature, and moisture. Starting with less sensitive products, Nestlé’s paper packaging journey started in confectionery including Smarties and KitKat and is now advancing to product categories such as coffee which require higher barrier protection,”
said Gerhard Niederreiter, Head of Nestlé’s Institute of Packaging Sciences.
Vital Proteins’ Sustainable Packaging
In the U.S., Nestlé has introduced new paperboard canisters for its Vital Proteins brand, which reduces plastic use by 90% compared to the previous packaging. These canisters feature a proprietary coverlid that ensures ease of use and durability, enhancing consumer convenience while being environmentally friendly.
“Coffee is particularly sensitive to oxygen and humidity. This is why redesigning packaging for this product category requires additional efforts to ensure we can safeguard product freshness and quality with science-based and sustainable solutions,”
stated Axel Touzet, Head of the Coffee Business Unit for Nestlé.
Nestlé’s efforts in paper packaging innovation mark a significant stride towards achieving its sustainability targets. By focusing on high-barrier paper solutions, the company addresses the challenges posed by product sensitivity to external elements. As Nestlé continues to collaborate with external partners and suppliers, it aims to advance and adopt next-generation paper packaging solutions across various product categories. This proactive approach not only reduces the environmental impact but also sets a new standard in sustainable packaging.
