Nestlé announced today that it will introduce bio-based lids and scoops made from sugar cane and its byproduct for a range of nutrition products for infants and children.
Nestlé Nutrition's NAN infant formula, which is packed using the new materials, was introduced in Hong Kong in 2020 and will be available in other markets globally from 2021, including for other brands such as BEBA and GUIGOZ.
Nestlé Health Science is also introducing the new packaging material for its Althéra, Alfaré, Alfamino, Modulen and Peptamen Junior brands, which are part of its global range of food for special medical purposes.
"Nestlé continues to push the boundaries of science to provide nutritional solutions for children, and we are putting that same passion into pioneering new packaging that is good for our planet," said Thierry Philardeau, head of Nestlé Nutrition.
"Families rely on us for support in the first 1,000 days of life — a critical time to shape a healthier and more prosperous future — and we are proud to be the first global brand to offer them solutions that maximize the use of renewable resources."
The lids and scoops are made from 66% and 95% sugar cane respectively. According to Nestlé, they are certified as plant-based packaging and are recyclable in countries that have recycling facilities for polyethylene (PE).
The company also claims that the solutions have the same properties and functionalities as conventional plastic ones, without compromising the high level of hygiene and freshness required.
Ryan Carvalho, head of R&D and chief medical officer for Nestlé Nutrition, said: "The development of innovative sustainable packaging solutions plays an important role in our journey to net-zero.
"Bio-based packaging from sugar cane is an excellent example of how we can make good use of plant-based raw materials that are renewable to develop better alternatives to traditional plastic while ensuring that our products maintain a high level of safety and quality."
Nestlé is a founding member of the Bioplastics Feedstock Alliance that aims to encourage production of bioplastics feedstocks in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable manner.
