Continuous Improvement

Yearly environmental objectives
GEF allows us to accurately measure our environmental footprint. This way we can institute targeted policies like the ones that have already allowed us to greatly reduce our environmental impact year after year.
With GEF we can also set exact annual goals that are then audited by a third party. For 2010, Nestlé Waters is committed to continued reduction of its environmental impact measured per litre of water produced:

Water consumption: 5% reduction
Energy consumption: 5% reduction
Packaging weight: 3% reduction

Measure to optimize

While it’s clear that important differences remain depending on the format and the geographical location,the average on the environmental impact related to GHG emissions of a PET bottle produced by Nestlé Waters can be broken down as follows:

55% goes into various packaging (PET resin, boxes and shrink-wrap, end of life for packaging, etc.)
27% goes to various transport (raw materials transported to the plant, finished product transported to the consumer, etc.)
18% for operations carried out in the industrial sites.

Thus reducing the weight of our plastic bottles constitutes one of our main environmental priorities. Between 2004 and 2009, we already succeeded in reducing the average weight of our bottles by 24%. The new technologies we now make use of mean that we have one of the lightest bottles on the market for all types of beverages. Take the new 500 ml Eco-Shape bottle released in 2009 as an example: it requires only 9,2 g of PET; that’s about two times less plastic than for the average, equivalent-sized soft drink bottle.

Our unique research resources (like the PTC Water) allow us to explore all the possibilities for alternative materials to make tomorrow’s bottles.

Recycling, a core priority
Bottle recycling is undeniably the most effective way to reduce the ecological footprint related to a consumption of bottled water. PET, like glass, is a 100% recyclable material. Nestlé Waters works with public bodies to encourage recycling.
As far as packaging, as well as transport and manufacturing are concerned, one of our strengths as a company lies in our ability to take inspiration from a small, local success and spread that to all markets where the activity is feasible.

For an overview of the initiatives we have taken and the results they have had in continuously improving our performances, click here.