FDBusiness.com

Nestlé has published a raft of sustainability and nutrition commitments it aims to meet by 2020 or earlier, including sourcing 100% certified sustainable palm oil, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and improving nutrition labelling.

Among its goals, Nestlé said it was bringing forward its earlier 2015 goal for 100% certified sustainable palm oil, and now aims to meet that commitment by 2013. On greenhouse gas emissions, it pledged to reduce emissions by 35% per tonne of product by 2015, compared to 2005 levels, and reduce water withdrawal per tonne of product by 40%.

Nestlé CEO Paul Bulcke said in a statement that the company has the capacity as well as the determination to protect the environment and create value for society.

“At Nestlé we recognise that our position in society brings not only opportunities, but also responsibilities,”  he said. “We can play a valuable leadership role in support of concerted action.”

Improved nutrition information

In response to increased scrutiny in light of rising obesity rates throughout the world, Nestlé has also said it intends to improve on-pack portion size and nutrition information.

Pledges include providing guideline daily amount (GDA) labelling on the front of all food packaging by 2016, and portion guidance on all products designed for children. The company said it also intended to introduce GDA labelling based on children’s reference values on these products, where regulations allow.

Nestlé also highlighted fat, salt and sugar reduction goals, particularly for children’s products, and said it intends to boost the proportion of Maggi products that encourage the use of home cooking with vegetables from 65% of the range last year, to 90% by 2015.

The company was ranked at number three for nutrition on, which pitted it against rival food manufacturers. The scorecard reviewed companies’ nutrition-related policies, formulation and delivery of affordable and appropriate products, and positive influence on consumer choice and behaviour.