Nestle Philippines 'greening' its supply chain

NESTLÉ Philippines is making sure that its environmental advocacy will spread throughout the lifecycle of its products by enjoining all the companies involved in its operations, from production to marketing, to take the green route.


Under its Greening the Supply Chain (GSC) program, Nestlé Philippines is influencing its suppliers, vendors and other business partners to improve their level of environmental performance.

"This ensures the continuous improvement of environmental performance throughout the supply chain, from producing and purchasing of raw materials, to manufacturing, packaging, distribution and finally to the consumer." Engineer Renato Alvarado, Nestlé's Corporate Safety, Health and Environment Executive, said.

Alvarado explained that the GSC program requires measures to reduce water consumption and energy efficiency initiatives.

The company, for its part, has also made substantial investments for its wastewater treatment, solid waste disposal and solid waste segregation.

Nestlé has been in the Philippines for 99 years. It has four manufacturing plants in the country.

The Cagayan de Oro factory manufactures Nescafé and Bear Brand, the Cabuyao factory produces Nido, Nesvita, Nan, Nestogen, Bear Brand Choco, Nestlé All-Purpose Cream, Ready-to-Drink Milo, Bear Brand Sterilized, and Chuckie; the Lipa factory, produces Milo and Nestlé Breakfast Cereals; and the Pulilan factory manufactures Nestlé Ice Cream and Chilled products.

The company recently announced that it is investing another P4.3-billion over two years for a new factory to be built on a 27-hectare site in Tanauan, Batangas.

Construction of the new factory will start this month and is expected to be completed in March 2012. The facility will produce Coffee-Mate Non-Dairy Creamer and Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink.

To ensure the program's effective implementation, Alvarado said they also provide free education on environmental management system and a forum for exchanging best practices for business partners.

The firm also makes available its customized assistance such as initial environmental reviews and follow-up visits, he added.

"Environmental protection is a responsibility." said Alvarado. "Nestlé promotes activities which help establish awareness on the importance of environmental protection, transforming this awareness to conviction and sustainable actions among its employees, business partners and other stakeholders not only in business but even on personal level."

Nestlé Philippines is expected to strongly influence the green advocacy among enterprises in the country since it is one of the top six corporations here.

by: Sherriebelle Alegre

SOURCE: Express Life (September 12, 2010)