Nestlé Australia has announced it is switching to renewable energy, meaning Aussie favourites, KitKat, Milo, Allen’s, Uncle Toby’s and Purina will now be made at 100 per cent renewable energy-powered factories.
Nestlé Australia’s announcement comes four years ahead of its original global target of 2025.
The company partnered with CWP Renewables to make its first renewable power purchase agreement (PPA), bringing the company one step closer to cutting emissions by 50 per cent before 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050.
The 10-year agreement covers Nestlé’s six Australian factories, two distribution centres, three corporate offices, 20 retail boutiques, and laboratory.
CWP Renewables’ Crudine Ridge and Sapphire wind farms in NSW will generate enough power to cover the electricity used across Nestle’s sites each year, which is the equivalent of powering approximately 19,000i households per year.
Nestlé Australia’s renewables switch up means the company will avoid roughly 73,000ii tonnes of annual carbon emissions.
“Achieving our sustainability commitments as we progress towards 2050 can’t wait – and neither can we,” said Nestlé Oceania CEO Sandra Martinez.
“I am proud that we’ve been able to accelerate switching to 100 per cent renewable electricity for our sites, but there’s still more to be done. This is one more step on our roadmap.
“This means that when Aussies are enjoying Nestlé products made in our Australian factories, they can do so knowing that it is made by electricity that has been renewably sourced.
“This builds on the work we are already doing to rethink our packaging, build sustainable supply chains, drive carbon neutral brands and transform our product portfolio with more plant-based foods and drinks.”
CWP Renewables CEO, Jason Willoughby commended Nestlé Australia for their efforts and said CWP was “proud” to be meeting the food and beverage company’s clean electricity needs.
“Through this PPA, Nestlé will also be supporting critical regional investment, with our Crudine and Sapphire wind farms providing around 20 local operations jobs, plus more across maintenance, and more than $8.55M in community benefit funding throughout the life of the farms,” he said.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter added, “Nestlé is one of the biggest energy-using companies in the country, and it’s important to see the company taking a tangible step to shift to 100 per cent renewable electricity with a major power purchase.
“The corporate momentum around the energy transition is building, and while companies like Nestlé have much work ahead of them to become sustainable, this is a step in the right direction.”
Nestlé’s switch to 100 per cent certified renewable electricity is just one of a number of ambitious sustainability targets that form the company’s Net Zero Roadmap.
The plan includes Nestlé’s 100 per cent renewables adoption, as well as:
- Transforming its product portfolio: Introducing plant-based foods and drinks, including Milo Plant-Based Energy, Uncle Tobys Oat Milk range and the vegan KitKat.
- Driving carbon neutral brands: Committing to achieving carbon neutrality for Nespressoby the end of 2022, and KitKat by end of 2025.
- Transforming packaging: Driving a commitment to make 100 per cent of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 and reducing our use of virgin plastics. This includes Smarties becoming the first global confectionery brand to use paper across its range; introducing recyclable packaging for all Maggi recipe bases; and reducing the amount of plastic used in Purina Petcare accessories by removing 16.7 tonnes of non-recyclable or unnecessary plastic each year.
