Nestlé’s “Good for you, Good for the planet” strategy addresses new consumer needs

Nutrition has been part of Nestlé’s DNA for over 150 years. To meet consumer expectations and respond to the global trends of adopting a balanced diet, Nestlé is revising its nutrition strategy and introducing a new approach “Good for you, good for the planet”, which incorporates the part of nutrition and health in the sustainable development of the society.

Nestlé’s new nutrition strategy involves two directions: product improvement and education for a balanced and more sustainable diet. Moreover, Nestlé has set itself the goal of increasing sales of its more nutritious products by 20-25 billion Swiss francs (equivalent to 21-26 billion euros) by 2030. In 2023, 59% of net sales, excluding PetCare, came from more nutritious products (according to the independent, globally recognized Health Star Rating criteria) and products for special nutritional needs (such as baby food, vitamin and mineral supplements and medical nutrition).

“The nutritional needs increased amid population growth. People need healthy food. Present in over 190 countries, with over 1 billion products sold on a daily basis, Nestlé’s <Good for you, good for the planet> campaign aims at bringing tasty and balanced diets in reach for billions and our ambition is to advance regenerative food systems at scale,” said Irina Siminenco, Corporate Affairs Manager Nestle Romania.

Improving the nutritional value of products involves the addition of beneficial ingredients such as whole grains, dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals, and on the other hand it stipulates the further reduction of sugar, salt and saturated fat contents, including through the exploration of new patented technologies. Nestlé also announces that all children’s sweets will have a maximum of 110 calories per serving.

„Nutrition has evolved rapidly and significantly, both as a science and as a perception. For most of us, food is no longer just a source of energy and nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Food also interacts with our emotional state in a two-way relationship, that is, food can influence our mental state, including cognitive processes, but our state also has effects on food consumption. Finally, food has an important social role, which in Romania is very well defined”, explains Nicoleta Tupiță, Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Manager Nestlé Romania, Bulgaria and Adriatic countries.

Nestlé aims to offer the right products for all these occasions, while guiding people towards a more balanced and sustainable diet. We all want to enjoy tasty and nutritious food that is also environmentally friendly. However, three billion people around the world cannot afford a healthy diet. People struggle with accessibility, time, appetites and limited valid information.

To guide people towards balanced consumption, Nestlé already has a number of educational initiatives, from transparent nutrition labelling to nutrition programs in schools and balanced recipes in accordance with local regulations. Under the Nestlé for Healthier Kids global initiative, it promotes a healthy lifestyle, and through the NutriPortion guide, it comes up with a method by which parents can prepare balanced meals for their families. Through its strict voluntary marketing to children policy, Nestlé undertakes not to make any communications to children under the age of 16 for the sweets category or for other foods that score lower on the nutritional criteria.

With this new strategy “Good for you, good for the planet”, Nestlé is stepping up its measures to help people enjoy a balanced diet in the most sustainable way possible.

The Nestlé group has been present in Romania since 1996, among the brands in its portfolio are NESCAFÉ, NESQUIK, Chocapic, KitKat®, Lion, JOE®, After Eight, MAGGI®, Purina, NAN®, GERBER®, Nespresso, Optifibre etc. In Romania, Nestlé also got involved in ecological and social responsibility initiatives. In the last 3 years, the company has planted 90,000 trees, which will contribute to achieving the goal of zero net carbon emissions by 2050.

Nestlé global initiatives: 

In 2017, Nestlé took several steps to accelerate progress towards the 2030 goals, as part of actions to improve the quality of life and contribute to a better future. Among them are the consolidation of the “Nestlé for Healthier Kids” program, the expansion of the “Nestlé needs YOUth” initiative and the development of sustainable environmental performance management activities. Nestlé maintains its position as a global leader in the food and beverage industry through its portfolio of healthy products accessible to consumers. The Access To Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) Global Index assesses the world’s 25 largest food producers, focusing on their nutrition policies, practices and performance. Nestlé’s top position is recognition of its ongoing commitment to nutrition and health, as well as its commitment to help address the global challenges of obesity and undernutrition.

Nestlé for Healthier Kids     

The “Nestlé for Healthier Kids” program was created to unite all Nestlé efforts that support parents and guardians to raise healthier children, from research activities and product formulation to innovative education and nutrition services for a healthy lifestyle. In Romania, these efforts are found under the umbrella of the program “And I live healthy – SETS”, initiated by the PRAIS Foundation, as well as “Traista cu Sănătate” under the guidance of the Healthy Traditions Foundation. The NutriPortion and VeggiePortion educational tools, as well as the Nestlé for Healthier Kids recipe book, are part of the company’s educational portfolio.

Nestlé needs YOUth 

Nestlé’s ambition for the global youth initiative “Nestlé needs YOUth” is to help 10 million young people around the world gain access to career opportunities by 2030. This global initiative combines and coordinates all activities that support young people around world, including the efforts of the Alliance for YOUth.

Nestlé for a Waste Free World 

Nestlé wants its products to be not only tastier and healthier, but also better for the environment. Nestlé’s ambition for 2030 is zero impact on the environment, focusing its efforts on reducing carbon dioxide emissions, biodiversity, and packaging management.