Nestlé promises to make all packaging recyclable until 2025

Zurich (Reuters)-Nestle wants to make all packaging recyclable or reusable until 2025, said the Swiss food giant said Tuesday, becoming the latest company to commit to reduce plastic waste. Nevertheless, environmentalists criticized the plan for lack of substance.
European Governments have stepped up efforts to reduce plastic waste and businesses across the food supply chain are doing the same. The British supermarket chain Waitrose promised on Tuesday to ban disposable coffee cups in their shops until the third quarter.
"The plastic waste is one of the greatest sustainability issues facing the world today. Face it requires a collective approach, "said the Chief Executive of Nestle, Mark Schneider.
The largest packaged food company in the world said it will focus on disposal of non-recyclable plastics, encourage the use of plastics that allow better recycling rates and eliminate or modify complex combinations of packaging materials.
"We are working to change the colors used in our plastic packaging. Lighter colors are easier to recycle, "said Duncan Pollard, Nestlé 's sustainability expert, the journalists.
The environmental group Greenpeace said Nestlé failed to give clear quantitative targets on the reduction of plastic waste, sorting the announcement of ' greenwashing ' (green wash), marketing activity with the goal of creating a positive image on the public opinion about the degree of environmental responsibility.
"The company is one of the responsible for the serious crisis in plastic in the oceans," said Yves Zenger, spokesman for Greenpeace, adding that Nestle should renounce completely disposable plastic packaging.
Pollard, of Nestlé, said that recycling of non-returnable plastic depends on the existence of a recycling infrastructure and that of Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, have to improve in that area.
Unilever [ULVR. L], Nestlé 's rival, said last week that it had entered into a partnership to develop a new technology that converts waste PET type plastic (Mylar polyethylene) in Virgin material for use in food packaging. The company has already committed itself last year to do all your reusable plastic packaging, recyclable or compostable until 2025.