Nestlé, the world’s largest food company, has set out an array of sustainability and development targets.
The company will look to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 35% for every ton of product it makes by 2020. It will focus on direct emissions, those emitted from its own buildings and processes.
A goal to reduce water use by 40% across its product range, which includes, Perrier, Nescafe and Purina pet food, was also announced in its latest Nestlé in Society report.
“Our focus on these areas is not new. We have been measuring our performance and reporting on our progress for many years,” said Paul Bulcke, CEO, Nestlé.
Nestlé will look to cut direct greenhouse gas emissions by 35% per ton of product (Source: Flickr/Nestle)
“What is new is that we are sharing the commitments we have made externally.
“We believe that by setting ourselves tangible, short-term goals for which we can be held accountable, rather than long-term aspirations, we can really make an impact,” he said in a statement.
“We have already achieved a lot,” he continued. “But we recognise there is always more to do. We have a good track record on meeting short-term targets around certain aspects of our environmental performance, and I am confident we can build on this.”
A switch to 100% sustainable palm oil will be welcomed by campaigners concerned that the growing demand for the product is negatively impacting the environment.
Palm oil is used in a broad range of supermarket goods including chocolate, soap and margarine.
The demand for palm oil has driven a rush to clear forests to cultivate the crop. It is also used for some biofuels.
Nestlé’s 2012 sales were just over $96bn. The company topped the Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) rankings for global companies. CDP rates companies’ efforts to monitor and reduce emissions and their transparency in revealing their progress.