Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Nestle aims to halve carbon emissions by 2030 with multi-billion push

Swiss food giant Nestle on Thursday unveiled a multi-billion programme to slash its carbon footprint, aiming to halve emissions by 2030.

As well as targeting zero net emissions by 2050, Nestle's new long-term road map calls for its 800 factories and production sites around the world to switch to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2025.


The conglomerate said it would plant 20 million trees each year over the next decade to help boost reforestation.

In 2018, the world's largest food company emitted some 92 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, it said, adding that was using that as its baseline for measuring progress.

"Tackling climate change can't wait and neither can we. It is imperative to the long-term success of our business," Nestle chief Mark Schneider said in a statement.

"We have a unique opportunity to address climate change, as we operate in nearly every country in the world and have the size, scale and reach to make a difference," he said, insisting the company was intent on reducing "our environmental footprint."

Chairman Paul Bulcke said the group wants to "contribute to a sustainable future for generations to come."

Nestle, which owns KitKat, Nespresso and Maggi among other brands, said it was working with hundreds of thousands of farmers and suppliers to implement so-called regenerative agriculture practices.

"With nearly two-thirds of our emissions coming from agriculture, it is clear that regenerative agriculture and reforestation are the focal points of our path to net zero," said executive vice-president Magdi Batato.

Nestle also said it was boosting its plant-based offerings, with several of its vegetarian and vegan brands due to become carbon neutral within a few years.

In total, Nestle said these changes will cost the company some 3.2 billion Swiss francs (£2.72 billion) over the next five years.

Nestle, whose international brands include Perrier, San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, is furthermore considering selling its water bottling operations in North America, where environmental campaign groups have criticised its water withdrawal activities.

Greenpeace lambasted Nestle, along with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo earlier this week, for being the world's worst plastic packaging polluters for a third consecutive year.

The environmental group also last year accused the food giant, along with competitor Unilever, of not respecting a 2010 commitment to reach net zero deforestation within a decade, maintaining that the pace of deforestation linked to commodities had instead increased "dramatically".

Last year, Nestle opened a research institute in Lausanne aimed at studying alternatives to plastic packaging, as it targets 100 percent recyclable packaging by 2025.

More for you

Budget 2024: Local shops to face significant new pressure

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Budget 2024: Local shops to face significant new pressure

Local shops will face significant new pressures as a result of today’s Budget, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has warned.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget's impact will be felt unevenly across the UK’s 50,000 convenience stores, with some measures such as business rate relief and the increased employment allowance mitigating costs for smaller independent stores, while providing no help for chains and larger independent businesses.

Keep ReadingShow less
Post Office cash deposits and withdrawals
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services

Parliament to launch inquiry into Post Office Horizon scandal compensation delays

Parliament is to launch an inquiry into delays in compensation settlements for sub postmasters affected by the Horizon scandal.

The newly-formed Business and Trade Select Committee will call ministers, subpostmasters and their lawyers to give evidence next week with a second session to follow in mid-November. The Committee’s chair, Liam Byrne MP told ITV News that there was “definitely a delay” in people coming forward for payment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Robbie MacDonald via LDRS

Shop’s licence bid rejected over illegal vapes and ‘no regard’ for children’s safety

A Rossendale shop has had a licence bid rejected after repeatedly selling vapes to children and having illegal products on its premises.

Management at the Ibra Superstore at 34 Burnley Road, Bacup, have shown ‘no regard’ for children’s protection and safety, and have insufficient controls for licensing, Rossendale councillors have ruled.

Keep ReadingShow less
SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR North of England retailer Dara Singh Randhawa’s family store has been awarded £100,000 of free stock after hitting all his targets since moving to the symbol.

Dara and his family, who have their SPAR store in Patrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, joined SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd in August 2023 having taken the decision to maximise the store’s potential.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pound Sterling bank notes
iStock

National Living Wage to increase to £12.21 in April 2025

The government has on Wednesday announced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations on the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW).

The rates which will apply from 1 April 2025 are as follows:

Keep ReadingShow less