Nestle Marks Progress Toward U.S. Commitments

Nestle in the United States today released its second Creating Shared Value (CSV) report outlining the company’s accomplishments in nutrition, health and wellness; environmental sustainability; and social impact in 2014, as well as its forward-looking commitments. The company celebrates key achievements such as more than 1,000 product reformulations for consumer health and preference considerations, as well as a new commitment to achieve zero waste to landfill status in all U.S. factories by 2020.
 
As Nestle approaches its 150th anniversary, it continues to make strides to become the world’s leading nutrition, health and wellness company and to create a more sustainable future while adapting to shifting consumer preferences. Nestle recognizes its opportunity – and responsibility – as the world’s largest food and beverage company to improve more than just the way we eat.
 
This year’s CSV report is a culmination of the company’s achievements in protecting scarce resources and improving lives, while at the same time continuing its journey to make good food even better. Progress in 2014 included more than 1,000 product reformulations signifying major steps toward long-term nutrition, health and wellness goals, as well as significant momentum in sustainability initiatives like water and energy conservation, and social impact programs, including community engagement and workplace practices.
 
The 2014 report shares specific commitments and progress in the categories of nutrition, health and wellness; environmental impact and water use; social impact and responsible sourcing. The cycle of improvement continues even beyond the publication of this latest report.

Nestle Waters North America (NWNA) announces that Arrowhead Brand 100% Mountain Spring Water will increase the amount of recycled content used by the brand by nearly 40 percent in California. Arrowhead already uses recycled material in its half liter bottle, but today’s announcement will expand the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) to additional bottle sizes by the end of 2016. This builds on NWNA’s commitment to reuse more plastic.
 
Highlights from the 2014 report include:
 
Nutrition, Health and Wellness
Critical to Nestle’s vision as a nutrition, health and wellness leader is to go beyond the reduction of salt, sugar and fat. Nestle aims to reinvent its products with added nutrition and increased variety to satisfy diverse consumer preferences. Nestle has reformulated 1,058 food products and pet products to consider nutrition or consumer preferences, including reduced sodium, sugar, trans fat and artificial colors and flavors, as well as increased essential nutrients. Highlights include:
 
Sodium: In 2014, 100 percent of Nestle’s children's products met the Nestle Nutritional Foundation (NNF) criteria for sodium, as committed to in 2013. Nestle evaluates its products using the NNF criteria, which are based on nutrition science and public health dietary recommendations. Additionally, Nestle has committed to reducing the salt content by an average of 10 percent from 2012 levels in all relevant products that don't meet the NNF criteria for salt.
 
Sugar Reduction: In 2014, 96 percent of children's products were compliant with the Nestle Nutrition Foundation guidelines for sugar. Nestle identified the SKUs that still need reformulation to meet the 100 percent compliance goal by 2015 and is on target to meet it. Additionally, Nestle committed to reducing the sugar in its relevant products that don't meet the NNF criteria by an average of 10 percent between 2014 and 2016.
 
Portion Guidance: In 2013, Nestle made the commitment to provide portion guidance on 100 percent of its children and family products by 2015. During 2014, Nestle continued working toward this goal by introducing more portion guidance messaging across the portfolio. Additionally, Nestle committed to providing portion guidance on all relevant products by 2017.
 
Environmental Sustainability
Nestle is putting as much care into preserving natural resources as it puts into improving its products, focusing on responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship.
 
Resource Efficiency: In 2014, 12 facilities in the United States achieved zero waste to landfill status, and, in 2015, 25 facilities—including all Nestle USA factories—accomplished this feat. Nestle has committed to achieve zero waste to landfill status in 100 percent of its U.S. factories by 2020.
 
Climate Change: In the 2014 report, Nestle highlighted an increase in onsite energy consumption from renewable resources of 24 percent compared to 2010. We also committed to develop a low-carbon energy plan for each Nestle operating facility in the U.S. to use renewable energy where possible by 2016 and encourage utilities where we operate to shift to a low-carbon energy mix.
 
Water: In 2014, Nestle reduced water withdrawals per metric ton of product by nine percent compared to 2010 and, in this report, added three objectives to address heightened concerns around water conservation: By 2016, implement projects in California facilities that will save 144 million gallons of water annually; by 2017, implement the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) international standard in its water bottling and food manufacturing factories in California; and by 2018, commit to conducting a water resources review at six of its priority sites across the U.S.
 
Social Impact
With 97 percent of households in the U.S. purchasing our brands, Nestle impacts many millions of lives every day – from farmers who produce our ingredients to consumers who enjoy our products, with partners and employees connecting these groups. We’re committed to creating a positive impact in the communities where we live and work.
 
Gender Balance: In the 2014 report, for the first time, Nestle defined its commitment to gender balance in the workplace and began work to implement the new Parental Support Policy in the U.S. By 2016, Nestle in the U.S. is committed to fully implementing this policy that grants eligible employees up to 14 weeks partially paid leave for primary caregivers.
 
Career Opportunities: In 2014, Nestle began the process and strategy for the 2015 launch of our Project Opportunity workforce development initiative, which expands apprenticeship opportunities in 31 Nestle factories and commits to reaching 300,000 people with “readiness for work” activities by 2017.
 
Social Impact:  In 2014, Nestle furthered its relationship with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to promote physical activity and established a new initiative to reach 50,000 kids in hundreds of clubs by 2017.
 
To learn more about the Nestle in the U.S. 2014 Creating Shared Value report, click here.