FAQs

Does Nestlé conduct research into improving the nutritional value of its products?

In 2008, Nestlé invested 1.98 billion CHF in product research and development, making it the world’s largest private nutrition, research and development organisation. Reducing the amounts of fat, salt and sugar contained in new and popular products whilst retaining taste is one core goal of Nestlé Research. Its 60/40+ initiative aims to create products that 60% of consumers will prefer when compared to the most prominent competitor product, with an additional nutritional ‘plus’.

Why does Nestlé consider itself ‘the world’s foremost Nutrition, Health and Wellness company’ and still sell ice-creams and confectionary?

Nestlé encourages a balanced diet for overall wellbeing, which can include some foods in moderation that are higher in fat and sugar. Through its advertising campaigns, Nestlé further encourages a healthy lifestyle by depicting individuals who lead active lives. Nestlé also initiates education programs focused on nutrition, health and wellness for school aged children around the world, reaching an estimated 9.1 million people to date.

How can I find out about the nutritional breakdown of a product?

The Nestlé Nutritional Compass™ and Nutrition Facts Table found on a growing number of Nestlé products are your guides to quickly and easily understand the nutritional breakdown of a product. They also provide consumer contact information and tips on how to obtain a healthier and more active lifestyle.

In the currently volatile economic climate, will Nestlé continue to invest in its ‘Creating Shared Value’ activities?

Nestlé understands that the future of the company and its stakeholders, from primary producers to consumers, are inextricably linked. Consequently, Nestlé’s ‘Creating Shared Value’ activities are not optional add-ons the company will dismiss in times of economic downturn. Rather, as an inherent part of our business strategy they are central to the continued prosperity of the company.

Nestlé was first founded by Henri Nestlé in 1866 and we expect the company to continue to thrive for another 143 years. With this long-term vision in mind, the creation of shared values over time for all our stakeholders can be optimised.

What contributions has Nestlé made in cocoa growing communities?

Nestlé is aware of the complicated issues surrounding child and forced labour in cocoa growing regions. As part of its Creating Shared Value initiative and in partnership with The International Cocoa Initiative, an affiliation of companies, labour unions and non-government organisations, Nestlé is working to eliminate child trafficking and the worst forms of child labour. Nestlé is also funding a three-year sustainable cocoa project in the Côte d’Ivoire with the goals of combating child labour, improving school attendance, improving cocoa farmers incomes, protecting the environment and increasing HIV awareness.

What is Nestlé's position on palm oil?

Nestlé shares the concern about the serious environmental threat to rainforests and peat fields in Southeast Asia caused by the planting of palm oil plantations. As an environmentally responsible company we want to do whatever we can to help solve this problem. We have a long-standing commitment to environmental protection which began decades ago.

Palm oil is not a major raw material for us. We only buy processed palm oil, and processed oil mixes, which often comes from multiple sources. We do not use crude palm oil, and thus have no direct link to the palm oil plantations. This complicates our ability to trace our palm oil back to source. In addition there is very little palm oil available that comes from sources independently certified as sustainable and traceable.

Nevertheless, we are committed to living up to the high environmental standards set out in our Corporate Business Principles and ensuring that our suppliers also do so. The majority of our supplies come from members of the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil which is developing an independent certification system for sustainable and traceable palm oil. We are working with our suppliers to improve and document traceability.
It is also worth pointing out that palm oil is also used as a material from which bio-fuels are produced and Nestlé has repeatedly spoken out against the production of such fuels from materials used to feed people.

Nestlé is deeply concerned about the destruction of the rainforests, peat fields, air quality and animal life and is prepared to play a full part in finding an effective multi-stakeholder solution to this complex problem.

What is Nestlé's position on biofuels?

Nestlé supports sustainable energy use: over the last five years, Nestlé has reduced its energy consumption per tonne of product by 28% and its greenhouse gas emissions by 32%. Nestlé believes that any decision on the use of energy sources must be based on a systematic cost benefit and life cycle analysis, taking into consideration the social and environmental impact, including the effects on food prices and water.

The current production of biofuel relies on the extensive use of crops such as maize and wheat. This has already led to significant price increases and will, in the long term, create food shortages for millions of consumers from lower-income groups for whom basic foodstuffs need to be affordable.

The large scale expansion of these agricultural raw materials for biofuel production will aggravate the problem of water scarcity, as every liter of biofuel made from irrigated maize or soybeans requires between 500 and 5,000 liters of water. Agriculture already uses 70% of available water sources. Furthermore, depending on crop type and geography, CO2 savings compared to fossil fuel can be very small, in some cases only 10%.

How does Nestlé compensate/pay communities for the water they extract from their land?

There are two situations that are specific to Nestlé Waters when it comes to managing the water resources we operate; one thing that is common, however, is the responsible manner in which we operate these water resources.

In the US and Canada, Nestlé Waters North America is generally the owner of the land and the water resources we operate. Nestle Waters North America frequently buys the land and develops the water supply and delivery systems at its own expense. NWNA usually buys the surrounding land for environmental protection, too. They then comply with the local authorities’ regulations and permits for water use. The amount of water used is regulated at the state level by the environmental authority.

In the rest of the world, NW does not own the water resources we operate. We generally own the buildings and equipment necessary to bottle the water for which we have the permission, as part of a contract, from the ground owner and local authorities (often one and the same), to extract a given volume of water. The right to operate the water resources is negotiated and agreed with the ground owner and local authorities, and payment for the water is included in this contract.

Do you agree that water is a basic human right?

Water is both a human right and a commodity, in that people pay for the water they use, and it plays a crucial economic role.

• While water wasn't included in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human rights, it was considered to be self-evident as a human right, since it is a basic necessity of life.
• At the UN International Conference on the Environment that was held in Dublin in 1992. The Conference Report set out recommendations for action at local, national and international levels, these included Four Principles. Principle Four acknowledges the economic value of water: “Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be recognised as an economic good. Within this principle, it is vital to recognise first the basic right of all human beings to have access to clean water and sanitation at an affordable price.” This is a non-binding statement.
• In 2002, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Affairs recognised access to water as a stand-alone right in General Comment No. 15. General Comments are authoritative statements of the Committee of its understanding of rights enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; they are only binding on those States Parties that have accepted them. The Committee stated "Everyone is entitled to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses.”
• Major capital investments are needed to build, maintain and operate healthy water delivery systems, and water is obviously sold to users. We also pay for water when we buy food and all products that use water in their production. For instance, according to UNESCO, it takes up to 1,000 tonnes of water to produce 1 tonne of grain. In most cases, access to safe water and treatment of water polluted by human activity does not come without substantial investments, so there is a price for water.
• The United Nations, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and others all point out that it is governments who are charged with enforcing human rights guarantees, including water. According to the UN, it is the duty of governments to make sure that all people can get access to at least a basic amount of water of about 20 liters.