Nestlé pilots reusable and refillable coffee dispensers
Screen grab from Nestlé's Youtube video (linked below)
Nestlé is piloting reusable and refillable dispensers for soluble coffee as part of its efforts to reduce single-use packaging. The in-store dispensers offer consumers a shopping experience that is free of single-use packaging, along with flexibility and variety of product choice.
Consumers can bring reusable containers to purchase different types of Nescafé soluble coffee. They can also digitally access product information that is typically found on packaging, such as ingredients, nutritional values and shelf life.
Working in collaboration with the start-up MIWA, Nestlé recently piloted the reusable and refillable dispensers in three Nestlé shops located in Rorschach, Orbe and La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland. During a four-month trial period, the dispensers were reportedly well received by consumers and Nestlé was able to gain valuable insights including the user-friendliness of the machines. To further assess the dispensers’ effectiveness in preventing packaging waste along the supply chain, the dispensers are now being rolled out across more locations in the next few months.
Hélène Lanctuit, R&D packaging lead at Nestlé, said: “Packaging plays a key role in maintaining food safety during a product’s shelf life. This means that whenever new packaging systems are explored we need to ensure that our products can be delivered to consumers in a safe and hygienic manner. These dispensers are novel because they incorporate smart technology which allows us to ensure product safety, and also guarantee the freshness and traceability of our products.”
The development of innovative, alternative delivery systems such as bulk, reuse and refill options are a key focus area for Nestlé across several product categories, the company says. In partnership with Terracycle, Nestlé is rolling out Loop, a subscription home delivery service in the US which will also soon be introduced in France. Additionally, mini dispensers for Nescafé and Milo are available for the out-of-home segment in many countries around the world.
Nestlé’s new systems are part of a broader set of actions by the company to reduce single-use packaging. Building on its commitment to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025, Nestlé announced plans to reduce the use of virgin plastics by one third during the same time period.
Philipp Navratil, global head of Beverage Strategic Business Unit at Nestlé, senior vice-president, said: “As part of Nescafé’s packaging transformation journey, we have been working hard to rethink how we design our packaging for better environmental impact. We are excited to work on a refilling option made possible by our in-store dispensing system for our consumers who want to enjoy their Nescafé experience at home.”
To watch Nestlé’s promotional video for its new dispensers, click here.