Nestlé has launched a limited-edition plant-based fork for Maggi cup noodles in India. Experts in food science and packaging at company’s R&D center in India worked with a local startup to create a two-piece edible fork made from wheat flour and salt. This unique combination, along with a proprietary design and manufacturing process, ensures the fork’s functionality while preserving the noodles’ nutritional value and taste.
Redesigning accessories such as straws, cups, and cutlery is a key aspect of Nestlé’s commitment to reducing or eliminating plastic use in packaging. This initiative complements efforts to simplify packaging materials, expand reusable and refillable systems, and explore alternative packaging materials across various product categories.
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Gerhard Niederreiter, head of Nestlé’s Institute of Packaging Sciences, states, “At Nestlé, we are constantly investigating alternative sustainable packaging solutions that guarantee food safety, enhance consumer experience, and preserve product taste and quality. In this instance, our packaging experts created a unique alternative fork, leveraging our scientific expertise in various food-grade packaging materials and designs.”
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Antonia Wanner, group head of ESG Strategy & Deployment, explains, “Minimising packaging & designing for recyclability are central to Nestle’s sustainability commitments. Our teams continually explore innovative materials and advanced technologies to create packaging solutions that are convenient, protect the food, and benefit the planet.”
Testing Innovative Packaging Solutions: Paper Scoop for Adult Milk Powders
Furthermore, Nestlé’s packaging experts in R&D Nutrition and China are testing a patented paper scoop for adult milk powders in China. This innovative packaging design, featuring a flat, foldable scoop and a metal cap, eliminates the need for plastic entirely.
By 2021, Nestlé had replaced 4.5 billion plastic straws worldwide with paper straws. Nestlé’s R&D teams have continued to innovate with recyclable straws, looking for new solutions and improving the functionality of existing paper straws. The Nestlé Institute of Packaging Sciences has also made significant efforts to create new paper cups, including researching non-plastic coatings that can withstand hot beverages.
These recent examples highlight Nestlé’s commitment to innovative solutions aimed at reducing the use of virgin plastics by incorporating less plastic, recycled plastic, and alternative packaging materials.
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