“Nestlé India shares the ambition that no plastic waste should end up discarded in the environment.”
Climate change is a big concern of 21st century and citizens, businesses as well as governments alike have begun to understand their responsibility towards mother earth. FMCG firm Nestlé India pledges its commitment towards environmentally sustainable business practices through all stages of production. In an exclusive interview with Manali Jaggi of BW Smart Cities, Sanjay Kajuria, Senior Vice-President- Corporate Affairs, Nestlé India talks about the company’s allegiance towards finding improved solutions to reduce, recycle and recover that paves the way to a healthier environment. Edited excerpts:
1. Tell us about your initiatives around plastic waste management?
As a responsible company, we have initiated projects on waste management by engaging with relevant stakeholders. We have installed a Gasolyser at our Tahliwal factory in Himachal Pradesh that converts plastic waste into fuel. We have also collaborated with industry bodies and organisations like Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA), NEPRA and Saahas Waste Management. We are also initiating the second phase of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) that includes collection, segregation and disposal of waste in partnership with other stakeholders in 12 states.
2. How well do you weigh and ensure sustainability around your business practices?
We have always been committed to environmentally sustainable business practices at all stages of production making the right choices to protect the future. Our initiatives are spread across the entire value chain and we engage with farmers, suppliers, employees and consumers to help increase awareness about environment sustainability. We are consistently minimising consumption of natural resources and reducing water, energy and specific direct gas emissions while maximising production volumes. Nestlé India shares the ambition that no plastic waste should end up discarded in the environment and believe that with the right approach it can be collected or recycled without a detrimental impact.
3. What all stakeholders are you collaborating with regarding the same?
We are committed to finding improved solutions to reduce, recycle and recover that paves the way for a healthier environment. To achieve this goal we have collaborated with various stakeholders across NGOs, academia, state governments and waste aggregators.
4. Tell us more about your 3R’s principle drive?
We are committed to the 3R’s principle – Reduce, Recycle and Recover
- Reduce: In 2017, we reduced packaging material weight by approximately 1,500 tonnes by ensuring eco designing of packaging in a sustainable way.
- Recycle: Encourage the use of recycled material wherever possible that can benefit the environment.
- Recover: Support initiatives to recycle or recover energy from used plastic.
5. Are you partnering with the Government also in any of the initiatives under its Swachh Bharat Abhiyan?
Nestlé India actively seeks engagement and partnerships with stakeholders to optimise positive impact in these focus areas, while managing our commitments to environmental and social sustainability, necessary for sustainable growth and development of communities where we operate.
6. How do you ensure less plastic pollution with your products through packaging optimization?
As mentioned earlier, we reduced packaging material weight by approximately 1,500 tonnes by ensuring eco designing of packaging in a sustainable way.