Nestlé has announced the conversion of its Nesquik ready-to-drink portfolio to a new recyclable shrink sleeve label, designed to enhance recycling ease for consumers. The shrink sleeve, which conforms to the bottle, utilizes light-blocking print technology and is compatible with the U.S. recycling stream. This innovation makes Nesquik the first Nestlé product on shelves with a recyclable shrink sleeve leveraging light-blocking technology.
The new shrink sleeve, made with materials enabling recycling of the bottle and sleeve together, aims to contribute to a circular economy for packaging. Consumers can now recycle the entire Nesquik ready-to-drink bottle, including the cap, bottle, and shrink sleeve, without removing the sleeve.
All seven Nesquik ready-to-drink flavors are expected to feature the new sleeve by June 2024, making an estimated 4,500 metric tons of PET plastic easier to recycle each year and improving sorting accuracy at recycling facilities.
Developing a recyclable solution for Nesquik’s shrink sleeve, which requires light-blocking properties due to the product’s sensitivity to light, presented a significant technical challenge. This initiative aligns with Nestlé’s broader goal of making all its packaging recyclable or reusable.
Chastity McLeod, VP Sustainability at Nestlé North America, emphasized the importance of maintaining product quality while enhancing recyclability, stating, “Our teams are constantly innovating to extend the use of packaging materials as a valuable resource that can be leveraged again—This innovation is a big step forward as we continue to drive progress on Nestlé’s packaging ambitions across our U.S. portfolio.”
The solution, which took nearly five years to develop, involved extensive testing and collaboration with packaging suppliers. Nesquik’s new shrink sleeve sets a precedent for more sustainable packaging in Nestlé’s beverage division, with plans to expand its use to Coffee mate® and Nestlé Sensations flavored milk products.
Daniel Jhung, President of Nestlé USA’s beverage division, highlighted the importance of making products easier to recycle, stating, “Making our products easier to recycle is important to our customers and consumers, and a key step in helping chart a path to a circular economy for packaging.”
Nestlé’s efforts with Nesquik’s new shrink sleeve reflect its commitment to sustainability, building on years of progress in creating a more sustainable future across its operations. For more information, visit nestleusa.com/sustainability.