Through our packaging policy, we are focused on reducing the environmental impact of our packaging, whilst not compromising on safety, quality and consumer acceptance.
Our strategy remains to:
- Work with our employees to develop the right procedures, the right behaviours and the right skills.
- Work with our consumers to encourage greater recycling and waste minimisation.
- Work with our partners to ensure our suppliers are choosing the right materials.
Our approach is aligned with the Australian National Packaging Covenant and the New Zealand Packaging Accord, and their respective principles of product stewardship and shared responsibility. Nestlé Oceania participated in industry discussions regarding the proposed New Zealand Packaging Stewardship Scheme, and called for greater Trans Tasmanharmony between the Australian New Zealand schemes.
Our challenges
Like many other businesses, we face a number of packaging challenges.
One of our challenges stems from a growing trend – reflecting smaller households in Australia and New Zealand in particular – toward smaller pack sizes and multi-packs. This in turn contributes to the use of more packaging per product.
Another challenge is the issue of Key Performance Indicators and the establishment of appropriate targets across our business. Consistent with our energy, water and waste targets, which we have had in place for a number of years, we would like to set specific quantitative targets to drive performance improvements in our packaging. The issue which we are grappling with is what these targets should look like, what issues they should cover, and where, in the packaging chain, they should target. Whilst we hoped to have these targets in place by the end of 2009, we did make some solid progress throughout the year.
Key to this was a PIQET (Packaging Impact Quick Evaluation Tool) audit. The audit explicitly aimed to identify the key drivers which lead to negative/positive impacts. The results will be used to guide our efforts, and the establishment of targets, to ensure we are focusing on the material areas where we can make the greatest impact. Initial findings show that the most common driver of negative PIQET outcomes is New Product Development. This area will be a major focus when we finalise our performance targets.
PIQET – Packaging Impact Quick Evaluation Tool
Nestlé Australia was a founding sponsor of the lifecycle assessment tool known as PIQET. The tool allows us to assess the full environmental impact – from 'cradle to grave' – of our packaging across a number of indicators including climate change, energy, water and waste.
PIQET is being used across our business to drive operational improvements in our packaging practices, in particular around New Product Development. Any new or modified packaging must now undergo a PIQET review. Any negative results require a business justification to be developed and escalated to the Sustainability Secretariat.
In 2009, we completed a comprehensive PIQET audit across some 65 Nestlé products. The PIQET audit helped us identify the key drivers which lead to negative/positive impacts. Initial findings of the audit identified four key drivers which, most often, negatively impact PIQET outcomes. The most common drivers of negative outcomes include New Product Development (and changes in packaging) and supply chain factors.
Based on user experience at both Nestlé Oceania and globally, we continued to work with the Sustainable Packaging Alliance (SPA) to progress a range of modifications and improvements to PIQET.
Sample of some of our sustainable packaging initiatives:
- Reduced cardboard thickness for Nescafé trayboards. li>Reduced corrugated board across ice cream shippers at Nestlé Mulgrave
- Removed a top flap from display trays across the Quick-Eze Multi Pack Range. The new open-top display tray uses 25 per cent less cardboard while carrying the same amount of products as the former design
- Reduced cardboard weight across multi-pack ice cream range, resulting in an annual reduction of around 18 tonnes
- Achieved significant reductions in carton board usage across our Friskies Dry Cat Food Range. The reductions were achieved through a redesign of the cartons' pour spout. This replaced the previous spout, which extruded from the carton, with a perforated opening, built into the carton itself
- Moving from a two piece lid to a one piece lid across our Nescafé jars, leading to a reduction in plastic and better recycling outcomes
Performance
Our packaging data currently only covers our Australian operations, as reported through the Australian National Packaging Covenant. We will look to incorporate additional packaging data in the future, particularly as the New Zealand Packaging Stewardship Scheme develops.
We were pleased to see a moderate improvement in our product to packaging ratio. We were also pleased to see recycled content by weight improve from last year. The overall amount of packaging used also dropped by some 14 per cent.
Labelling
Environmental labelling is an important component of our packaging strategy. It helps our consumers know what to do with our packaging when they have finished with it. Environmental labelling is a requirement on all of our products.
Our labelling consists of information to assist in identifying if the packaging can be recycled or how it should be disposed of.
Recycling Information
Recycling plays a significant role in packaging minimisation. It is important that consumers sort recyclable containers from their household waste and put these into their recycling services. To assist with this, Planet Ark have developed a website which allows you to search for local recycling information by council area or product type. Please follow the link to access the site: http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/
National Packaging Covenant
The National Packaging Covenant is Australia's framework for addressing the environmental impact of packaging across its life-cycle. Applicable to all players in the packaging supply chain, it establishes the 'rules of the road' for ensuring that packaging is used in an environmentally responsible manner.
Nestlé Australia Ltd became a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant on September 28th 2000 and is committed to the key Covenant principles of product stewardship and shared responsibility. These commitments are consistent with those which are evident in Nestlé's worldwide and Oceania environment policies and in Nestlé's demonstrated efforts over the past decade to reduce packaging waste worldwide.
To achieve the Covenant goals, industry, all levels of government and consumers must play their part in supporting the principles of 'product stewardship' and 'shared responsibility':
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"Shared responsibility" - all players in the life of a package (including the packaging manufacturers, fillers, retailers, consumers, recyclers and government) have a share of responsibility for its impact on the environment.
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"Product Stewardship" - a pro-active approach by producers of packaging and packaged products to minimise waste impacts of products where possible. Includes changes in product design and materials used, solid waste management and recycling in operations and distribution, appropriate product labelling, development of new markets for collected post-consumer materials, education campaigns, and key stakeholder engagement.
Click here to visit the National Packaging Covenant Website
Click here to download the Nestlé 2010-2015 Action Plan (
in .pdf format)
Click here to download the Nestlé 2008-2010 Action Plan ( in .pdf format)
Click here to download the Nestlé 2005-2008 Action Plan ( in .pdf format)
Click here to download the Nestlé 2009-2010 Progress Report ( in .pdf format)
Click here to download the Nestlé 2008-2009 Progress Report ( in .pdf format)
Click here to download the Nestlé 2007-2008 Progress Report ( in .pdf format)
Click here to download the Nestlé 2006-2007 Progress Report ( in .pdf format)
Click here to download the Nestlé 2005-2006 Progress Report ( in .pdf format)
Nestlé Oceania Packaging Policy: read it here
Nestlé Environmental Footprint information here
Nestlé and the Environmental information here
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