Nestle sets new eco targets for UK and Ireland
In its newly published Creating Shared Value Report, Nestle reported on environmental targets set in 2006 for the UK and Ireland.
Emissions, water, packing and transport
One of the headline targets had been a 10 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. A company spokesperson said that milestone was reached and surpassed last year with an 11 per cent cut.
On that basis, Nestle has established a new target of a 20 per cent drop in emissions by 2015, working still to a 2006 baseline.
On the subject of water, Nestle exceeded its 2010 target by a wider margin than it did for emissions. A goal of 10 per cent less water consumption had been set and in 2009 the company said total consumption had actually fallen by 27 per cent.
However, looking forward Nestle does not expect to be able to sustain that level of progress. For 2015, it has set a 30 per cent target for reducing water consumption against the same 2006 baseline.
As for packaging, Nestle said it aims to increase the recyclability of its packaging from 90 per cent to 95 per cent over the next five years. This comes after Nestle beat its goal of reducing packaging by 10 per cent through 2010 having cut packaging by 12.6 per cent in 2009.
Regarding transportation, Nestle still has some way to go before it reaches its target to reduce the environmental cost of logistics by 20 per cent by 2012. The company said that it had achieved a 12 per cent reduction last year.
Zero waste
Finally on the subject of waste, Nestle reiterated its commitment established last year to achieve zero total waste in all of its 14 factories in the UK and Ireland by 2015. The company has already done so at its Girvan factory in Scotland. It describes the zero waste goal as one of its most ambitious projects.
Nestle UK&I’s chairman and CEO Paul Grimwood said: “We are determined to drive down waste at all levels of our operations – whether it’s aiming for zero waste to landfill or helping our consumers to reduce the amount that they throw away by providing recyclable packaging.
“I am extremely proud that the team in Girvan has achieved zero waste to landfill five years ahead of target and we expect at least one other site to follow suit shortly.”
