Nestlé expands Project SAVE to combat plastic pollution

Nestlé Malaysia is taking significant strides towards a waste-free Malaysia with the expansion of Project SAVE, the company’s voluntary Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Initiative.

In collaboration with Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA) and KPT Recycle, Nestlé has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to intensify its community recycling programme in Shah Alam.

This marks the launch of the next phase of recycling projects and introduces the innovative 3R Family App by KPT Recycle to digitalize and support these efforts.

Nestlé to support better recycling habits

The collaboration encompasses existing initiatives such as the Strata Recycling Programme, established in 2021, along with the Door-to-Door Collection and Recycling Programme and the KITAR Recycling Initiative for kampung areas, initiated in 2022.

Beginning with 540 households, these programmes have now expanded to cover over 60,500 households, including landed housing, apartments, and kampung areas in Shah Alam. The impact extends to 170,000 families in Selangor and KL, with a target of collecting 12,000 tonnes of dry mixed recyclables by the end of 2023, including 7,000 tonnes of plastic.

The signing of the MoU signifies the continued growth of these programmes, aiming to engage even more households in Shah Alam. Facilitating this expansion is the 3R Family App by KPT Recycle, a mobile application designed to promote and support better recycling habits. The app includes features such as a recycling collection schedule and the tracking of recycling activities within residential areas.

Making recycling accessible to more households

Juan Aranols, Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad, expressed, “Our door-to-door recycling programmes now reach nearly 50% of landed housing and 26% of total households in Shah Alam, establishing this municipality as a true pioneer in promoting recycling amongst Malaysian cities. Our continued collaboration with MBSA and KPT Recycle is making recycling accessible to more households, and this will be now further powered by digitalisation with the launch of the 3R Family App.”

The MoU was formally signed by Tuan Dr. Nor Fuad Bin Abdul Hamid, Mayor of Shah Alam, Mr. Juan Aranols, CEO of Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad, and Mr. Lee Chay Chen, Director of KPT Recycle. This significant event was witnessed by YB Ng Suee Lim, Selangor State Executive Council for Local Government, New Village Development, and Tourism, along with representatives of other key project partners.

Nestlé Malaysia’s community recycling programmes align with the company’s vision to prevent any of its packaging, including plastics, from ending up in landfills or the ocean. In combination with efforts to reduce virgin plastic content in packaging, Nestlé is making rapid progress towards its plastic neutrality goal by 2025.

Nestlé Malaysia’s partnership with Shah Alam authorities and KPT Recycle signifies a significant step forward in the battle against plastic pollution. With the expansion of Project SAVE and the introduction of the 3R Family App, Nestlé is actively promoting recycling and sustainability in the community.

Their vision of ensuring that none of their packaging, especially plastics, ends up in landfills or the ocean is becoming a reality. As these initiatives grow and reach more households, Shah Alam emerges as a trailblazer in Malaysia’s recycling efforts. Nestlé’s commitment to achieving plastic neutrality by 2025 demonstrates their dedication to a cleaner, more sustainable future.