Recycling more

In the United States, bottled water containers make up 0.3% of the entire municipal waste stream. In France, plastic water bottles represent 0.03% of total waste production. Yet we recognise that bottles ending in landfills or incineration plants doesn’t make any sense environmentally.

PET material in fact 100% recyclable. Many objects today are already made from recycled bottles: baby seats, blankets, jackets, pillows, sweaters, watches, public benches and insulation. Unlike some other kinds of waste (industrial or construction waste for example), the PET collection and recycling processes are quite well developed in many industrialised countries. There, local governments and waste collection agencies collect PET materials separately from other household waste. The PET packaging collected this way is taken to recycling centres where it is sorted and separated into different colours. It is then crushed, pressed into bales and offered for sale to recycling companies.

We feel that one of our core responsibilities is to promote effective recycling processes in countries where we operate. In France, we play a central role in working with the Eco-EmballagesEco-Emballages
Eco-Emballages oversees recycling of household waste in France. Among its various missions, Eco-Emballages encourages companies to design packaging that is more environmentally friendly.
Packaging with the “Green Dot” indicates that the company that produced the product encourages the recycling of its packaging and makes a financial contribution to Eco-Emballages. The “Green Dot” can be found on 95% of the packaging in France. national collection agency. Nestlé Waters is one of the co-founders of this agency that was created in 1992 and whose mission is organizing, overseeing and helping to remove household packaging waste. Along with other bottled water industry members, in 2006 we contributed nearly 51 million Euros to the association, with a portion of that budget being used in awareness-raising campaigns targeted to consumers and companies. In Germany, we partner with DSDDSD
DSD is based on multiple waste collection systems that have been adapted to municipal preferences. Companies pay a license fee to DSD to finance collection systems, and other programs related to recycling, and then place a “Green Dot” on their consumer goods packaging. (Duales System Deutschland) which was created by 600 companies in 1990 to reinforce the recycling process in the country.

In the United States, approximately half of all Americans do not have access to curbside recycling pickup at home. One of our top priorities is then working with a variety of stakeholders to develop a closed-loop recycling system, including participating in the American Beverage Association’s Recycling Task Force.

To encourage people to recycle, Nestlé Waters provided financial support to RecycQuebec, a provincial recycling board, to place recycling bins in public places throughout Quebec City: parks, recreational facilities, transit stops bars and restaurants... Through this very innovative program, on-the-go recycling rates increased from nearly zero to 85% in participating areas between 2006 and 2007. Seeing the potential, the government extended this initiative to the entire province.

We also raise awareness and educate consumers on recycling: without motivated users, no system is likely to be effective. Our brands and our bottles remain our main message carriers to educate and encourage good recycling behaviour.