Nestlé Philippines Strives for Carbon Neutrality by 2050

On Friday, Nestlé Philippines Inc. committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The firm has also aimed to significantly reduce virgin plastic consumption by a third and cut 30% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in local operation by 2025.

“We will cut down virgin plastics consumption by one-third by 2025,” said Kais Marzouki, Nestlé Philippines Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, during the 2021 Net Zero Fair held virtually on Friday. Virgin plastics refer to resins created without any recycled materials.

“We will collect and divert an annual average of 26,000 metric tons of plastic waste away from landfills and oceans…and reduce GHG emissions in our (factory, administrative office, and logistics) operations by 30% by 2025,” he added.

According to Marzouki, the firm has already made the transition to clean energy evident in its Luzon factories and Makati office which are fully powered by renewable energy.

“These commitments aim to support the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement to reduce and avoid carbon emissions by 75% as of 2030,” said Nestlé Philippines in a recent statement.

The firm is also developing technology to make recyclable or reusable packaging for its products by 2025. It was also the first multinational fast-moving consumer goods company to attain plastic neutrality in the Philippines in August 2020.

“This means Nestlé Philippines is collecting and co-processing, and therefore diverting from nature, the equivalent amount of plastic that it generates in its packaging. Since then, it has collected 18,000 metric tons of plastic waste in the last seven months,” the firm explained.

Nestlé Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications Arlene Tan-Bantoto also noted that the firm is sourcing raw and packaging materials “with the lowest levels of GHG emissions” by working with local and foreign suppliers.

Nestlé is poised to help the Philippines “attain its goals of building climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience by accelerating its actions to tackle climate change,” said Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu.

“We accordingly assure Nestlé of our support as it continues to pioneer science-based environmental initiatives one after another,” he added.

“Nestlé Philippines will take a leading role in working towards net-zero GHG emissions by integrating sustainable practices in our operations. We will continue to seek out partnerships and collaborate with consumers, the government, industry, NGOs, and other stakeholders, as we journey to a net-zero future,” Marzouki explained during the Net Zero Fair.

Source: Business World