The Next Packaging Movement: Perrier reveals winners of its sustainable innovation program

03 Feb 2020 --- Nestlé’s French bottled water brand Perrier has launched The Next Packaging Movement, a sustainable innovation program to allow for better collaborative packaging solutions. Perrier selected three winners that address different aspects of packaging challenges, ranging from source materials, alternative solutions beyond the bottle and packaging end-of-life. With Perrier’s support, the projects aim to bring their solutions to market by 2025.

“The Next Packaging Movement by Perrier is looking at multiple innovations and encouraging collaboration to find a multi-faceted solution. We are shifting the focus of efforts from simply 100 percent recycled and recyclable to a wholly reimagined packaging with the potential to deliver positive environmental and social impact,” Philippe Gallard, International Business Unit Director Perrier tells PackagingInsights.

“The movement goes beyond 100 percent recycled and recyclable packaging by reimagining packaging from sources to end-of-life with the potential to positively impact the environment and society at large, all made possible through innovations such as bioplastics that are biodegradable and new formats such as recyclable low-impact kegs,” he continues.

Selected from 90 submissions, the three winners include:

• Biotic: A bio-based and biodegradable plastic, produced from agricultural waste while also creating well-paying jobs for women in Africa where the project is based. 

• Flexikeg & Perrier: An “eco-llaboration” to deliver beverages among which water, in an innovative and re-usable flexible keg, with the aim to reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions.

• PlastiSkul: Micro factories for waste transformation, an integrated-approach model mixing low and high tech solutions, from waste collection to transformation. The factories can be implemented in developing countries, with a strong social impact, including a training program for local entrepreneurs.

Perrier is a Nestlé-owned water brand.“Perrier is committed to doing its part to address the growing global plastic packaging issue and believes to truly impact change it must look to breakthrough innovations. The winners selected as part of the Next Packaging Movement were evaluated based on potential positive impact, not just for Perrier, but across the entire beverage industry. Perrier believes that finding packaging solutions that deliver positive environmental and social impact is key to a more sustainable future,” Gallard affirms.

Nestlé reinvigorates sustainability charge
Nestlé has ramped up its sustainability efforts in a bid to dismiss its “top polluting company” title. Last November, Nestlé Waters’ Poland Spring used QR codes to put traceable and sustainable water bottles in consumers’ hands. Less than a month ago, the food giant invested up to two billion Swiss francs (US$2.08 billion) to pioneer the shift from virgin plastics to food-grade recycled plastics.

“Our vision is that none of our packaging, including plastics, ends up in landfills nor in oceans, lakes, and rivers. To achieve this, we have committed to ensuring 100 percent of our packaging is reusable or recyclable by 2025. However, that commitment to make 100 percent of our packaging recyclable or reusable alone is not enough,” Galland maintains.

For the brands of Nestle’s waters category, plastic packaging stewardship is focused on integrating at least 50 percent recycled plastic (rPET) in all bottles by 2025 and also developing packaging solutions beyond plastic and bottles. Tackling single-use packaging, the company’s goal also prioritizes collecting as many bottles as those produced by 2030. Besides increasing the use of bio-based plastic in its packaging, Nestlé water-oriented companies have also set driving new consumer behavior and understanding as a corporate value.

“Perrier has always been a brand that keeps pace with the times, evolving with its consumers and innovating while remaining true to its core values. We hope that with The Next Packaging Movement by Perrier we can contribute to a more sustainable future, leading through bold actions and bringing to market innovative projects,” Gallard concludes.

By Anni Schleicher

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