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NESTLÉ MAINTAINS AIS PARTNERSHIP The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has extended its partnership with Nestlé Australia for a further year. This will involve the Institute continuing its work with Nestlé on projects such as the Nestlé for Healthier Kids School Program centred on improving nutrition and health knowledge and encouraging physical activity among school children. This program has been the most successful, according to Nestlé Corporate Programs and Sponsorship Manager Rashna Shroff. “Combining Nestlé’s knowledge of health and nutrition with the AIS’s focus on high performance sport, we’ve created a program that will help to change the state of health of our next generation,” she said. “Through the AIS, we aim to inspire kids with athletes, leading to an enjoyment and encouragement of physical activity.” CONFECTIONERY MONDELĒZ DOES ITS BIT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Amid the uncertainty and new normal, looking after the environment remains a concern for many confectionery companies, they say. Mondelēz Australia is well aware of the importance of sustainable products, and preserving the environment as evident in raising awareness and supporting conservation efforts for endangered frog species. Recently the company trialled its first wholly sustainable and recyclable paper flow-wrap packaging on chocolates produced for overseas delivery, to test the wrapper’s operational durability in transit. The global snacks company used its Claremont factory in Perth as its trial site. The chosen trial product was Cadbury Energy, which the firm produces for export to New Zealand. The packaging material comprises fully-sealed paper flow-wrap material without the need for any laminates, foils or plastics to act as a barrier to protect food and ensure freshness, compared with many current paper- based food wraps that have a thin plastic film to protect the product. Mondelēz Director of Marketing for Cadbury Paul Chatfield says the company is committed to making all its packaging recyclable by 2025. “With waste being just one part of the lifecycle of a product, we need to ensure the total environmental impact of a packaging material is considered,” he said. “There’s no point adopting an alternative packaging material that minimises waste but has a larger carbon footprint.” The trial’s objective was to test the durability and effectiveness of the packaging in transport as well as gather consumer feedback about it. To date the trial is said to have been successful. Initial feedback from consumers who trialled the packaging has been positive, Mr Chatfield says, with further trials expected to test the material with different products in different conditions and situations. This is not to say that plastic will no longer be used by the company. It will still play a role in delivering products to consumers with the freshness and shelf life they expect, Mr Chatfield adds, but emerging material technologies herald eco-friendly alternatives for some products. In addition, Mondelēz aims to source wholly sustainable cocoa for its chocolate snack brands, such as Cadbury, and reduce water use, food waste and carbon dioxide emissions. Wholly renewable energy order of the day Mondelēz says it intends to use wholly renewable electricity at two of its factories in Melbourne, which manufacture treats as diverse as Cadbury Cherry Ripe, Crunchie and Picnic bars, Cadbury Easter eggs and bunnies, The Natural Confectionery Company jellies, and Pascall lollies such as Pineapple Lumps. The move will involve partnerships with Victorian businesses such as RMIT University, CBUS Property, ISPT, Fulton Hogan, Citywide Asphalt and Deakin University, to establish a power purchasing agreement to invest in local renewables. The City of Melbourne is credited with facilitating Mondelēz’s goal of significantly reducing its carbon footprint. SEP/OCT, 2020 CONVENIENCE WORLD 63