Boosting baby food with bio-based improvements

Nestlé has announced that it will introduce bio-based lids and scoops made from sugar cane and its by product for a range of its nutrition products for babies and children.

The main advantage of these bio-based plastics is that they are made from a renewable plant material, which can be continually replenished, and that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In addition, this packaging helps Nestlé reduce its use of fossil-based plastics.

“Nestlé continues to push the boundaries of science to provide nutritional solutions for children, and we are putting that same passion into pioneering new packaging that is good for our planet,” says Thierry Philardeau, head of Nestlé Nutrition. “Families rely on us for support in the first 1 000 days of life — a critical time to shape a healthier and more prosperous future — and we are proud to be the first global brand to offer them solutions that maximise the use of renewable resources.”

Nestlé Nutrition’s NAN infant formula, packed in the new packaging materials, was introduced in Hong Kong in 2020 and will be available in other markets globally from this year.

Nestlé Health Science is also introducing the new packaging material for its Althéra, Alfaré, Alfamino, Modulen and Peptamen Junior brands, which are part of its global range of paediatric food for special medical purposes.

Greg Behar, CEO of Nestlé Health Science, adds: “It is our responsibility to our customers and to our planet to innovate on packaging materials that contribute to a more sustainable future. We are pleased that Nestlé Health Science’s paediatric range is our first product group to include the new bio-based lids and scoops: new solutions for a new generation.”

The lids and scoops are made from 66% and 95% sugar cane respectively. They are certified as plant-based packaging and are recyclable in countries that have recycling facilities for polyethene. They have the same properties and functionalities as conventional plastic ones, without compromising the high level of hygiene and freshness required.