Nestlé – Improving Product Performance Along the Value Chain

GLOBE-Net, May 6, 2013 – The food production chain uses a large share of the world’s limited resources, which is why as the world’s leading food and beverage company we recognise our position brings responsibilities as well as opportunities.

At Nestlé our goal is to produce products that are not only tastier and healthier, but also better for the environment. It’s a challenge we approach by looking at every stage of production, from farm to fork, and targeting areas for improvement.

We’ve already made significant progress, initially focusing mainly on our own direct operations. Since 2002, we’ve halved our water withdrawal and direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per tonne of product.

[stextbox id=”custom” float=”true” width=”200″ bcolor=”add3d5″ bgcolor=”add3d5″ image=”null”]Making our products more environmentally sustainable gives consumers another reason to prefer them. More importantly, it is the right thing to do.[/stextbox]

This was possible because over the last ten years we set ourselves tangible continuous improvement goals for which we could be held accountable.

This includes embracing new technologies, such as using spent coffee grounds as a clean source of renewable energy, and advanced filtration to recycle water within our factories, especially in regions where water is scarce.

Switching to cleaner energy

Climate change may exacerbate environmental challenges such as the availability of clean water, which in turn will directly affect the long-term availability of the raw materials from which we make our products.

In Mexico, we have an agreement with a wind energy company that has led to 85% of the total electricity consumed by our factories in the country now being supplied by wind power.  Our estimates show this will reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 39,000 small cars off the road annually.

In France, our factories in Challerange, Rosières and Herta St Pol have all installed wood-fired boilers that use woodchips from certified forests. The factory in Challerange is meeting 96% of its fuel needs with its boiler, saving about 8,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

In total, the three boilers will reduce Nestlé France’s annual CO₂ emissions by a quarter.