NIGERIA – Nestlé Nigeria has achieved a major sustainability milestone, becoming the first company in the country to incorporate 50% recycled PET (rPET) into its water packaging.

The innovation marks a significant step in advancing circular packaging and reducing dependence on virgin plastic.

Nestlé is a founding member of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), Nigeria’s first producer responsibility organization (PRO), which champions Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and drives accountability for post-consumer packaging waste.

The beverage industry has the potential to negatively impact the environment, contributing to plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

But manufacturers are trying to do their bit to mitigate their impact. For example, DS Smith, Krones and Coca-Cola HBC are working together to create a recyclable packaging solution to reduce single use plastics in drinks packaging.

The recyclable Lift Up handle

DS Smith has designed the Lift Up, which is a corrugated cardboard handle for 1.5-litre bottles of soft drinks.

With the global premium alcoholic beverages market expected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.89% and reach $1.686 trillion by 2034, it’s clear why the global wine and spirits industry is increasingly focused on premiumization. As brands aim to differentiate their products through outstanding packaging designs and materials, UPM’s new label material sample folder helps printers convey premium options to their customers.

"This morning, we from Bulog, along with the Chair of the Supervisory Board and our team, carried out the launching of Bulog rice, which is called Befood Sentra Ramos," said Bulog's CEO, Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, at the 'Befood Rice Up Your Day' event in Jakarta on Sunday, November 2, 2025, as quoted from Antara.

Rizal noted that Befood Sentra Ramos is a premium rice product, boasting a 14 percent moisture content and a broken rice percentage of only 15 percent. This specific composition results in a tender texture and a flavor preferred by people from various backgrounds.

Food manufacturers are facing growing pressure to meet demand while maintaining consistency, safety, and efficiency on their production lines. Labor shortages and repetitive, manual tasks make it increasingly difficult to sustain high throughput without sacrificing quality or profitability. These challenges are especially acute in meal assembly and packaging, where precision and flexibility are essential but difficult to scale, especially in the cold rooms where production tends to occur and labor shortages are omnipresent.