Nestlé invests £35M in green factory
The firm said the factory will enable it to “significantly reduce” the site’s total energy output and reduce the amount of water used in manufacturing. In addition, the facility is aiming to be certified zero waste to landfill by 2012.
As part of the factory’s development, Nestlé waters is also working to achieve an ‘excellent’ rating within the British Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method certification scheme.
The certification assesses solutions used to minimise the environmental impact of the building, the operation’s running costs and the site’s transport infrastructure and ecology.
Capability
The site, which is set to open in May next year at Waterswallows in Buxton, will combine the Nestlé Waters UK bottling facility with a new warehousing capability. It will also produce the lightest weight water bottles in the UK, the firm revealed.
The new bottle design will use an average of 25% less PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic than the current design, and will be rolled out across the entire still range of Buxton Natural Mineral Water and Nestlé Pure Life.
Paolo Sangiorgi, md, Nestlé Waters UK, said: “Demand for our bottled water brands has seen double digit growth over the last three years. This major investment in a state of the art factory in Buxton clearly demonstrates our commitment to our market leading portfolio of bottled water.
“The innovative design of the site will enable us to reduce our energy and water consumption significantly, making the business sustainable for the long term.”
Development
As part of the site’s development the firm will work closely with the local community on projects such as the on-the-go recycling programme and the Project WET schools initiative which educates teachers and children on the vital role water plays in our lives, Sangiorgi added.
Meanwhile, following a ruling from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), drinks manufacturers can no longer claim that water can prevent dehydration.
Fuelling criticism of EFSA’s decision-making progress, the authority’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies has disallowed a water related health claim. The banned claim was: "The regular consumption of significant amounts of water can reduce the risk of development of dehydration and of con-comitant decrease of performance.” Click here for more information.
