NESTLE Malaysia is stepping up its community recycling efforts with the launch of “Nestle Kitar”.
It is a refreshed platform building on its Project SAVE (Segregate, Avoid, Value, Educate) – the brand’s voluntary Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) initiative.
“Nestle Kitar” aims to expand community participation in recycling nationwide.
It will do so through enhanced collection services, recycling education and strategic partnerships, supporting Malaysia’s transition towards a more circular economy, the company said in a media statement.
The initiative was introduced at the “Nestle: Sustainability, Connected” event in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, which was launched by Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Nohat.
Also present were Nestle S.A. assistant vice-president and head of sustainability for Asia, Oceania and Africa Katarzyna Grzybowska, alongside representatives from government agencies, industry partners and civil society organisations.
Nestle Malaysia chief executive officer Juan Aranols said Malaysia generated an estimated 40,000 tonnes of solid waste every day.
A significant proportion comprised materials that could potentially be recycled.
“This underlines the importance of making recycling more accessible and strengthening separation at source.
“‘Nestle Kitar’ is a critical part of how we deliver on our global vision that none of our packaging ends up in landfill or as litter.
“Reduced use of plastics and better packaging design are necessary blocks to build a circular economy.
“Additionally, we must also strengthen collection and recovery through effective recycling systems, community participation and strong partnerships,” he said.
Aranols said Project SAVE had laid the foundation over the past six years.
“Through ‘Nestle Kitar’, we will now further build on this progress to reach more households and help make responsible recycling practices part of everyday life,” he said.
Since its establishment in 2020, Project SAVE had grown to serve about 270,000 households across nine cities, providing regular household recycling collection and encouraging separation at source.
To date, the programme had recovered and recycled 50,000 tonnes of dry mixed recyclables, including 32,000 tonnes of plastics.
According to the company, “Nestle Kitar” reflected the collective effort required to build a more effective recycling ecosystem.
It embodied a shared responsibility among industry, government agencies, local authorities, waste management concessionaires, recyclers and communities to expand collection services, reduce waste, strengthen recycling education and encourage consistent household participation.
The platform also complemented the company’s broader efforts to reduce virgin plastic, increase the use of recycled materials, and design packaging for recyclability.
As of 2025, 95.6% of Nestle Malaysia’s packaging was designed for recycling, building on pioneering innovations.
This included the introduction of high-quality recycled plastic resin (rPET) bottles across its Ready-to-Drink beverage portfolio – a first in Malaysia – as well as replacing plastic bowls and cups with sustainable paper-based alternatives across selected product categories.
According to the statement, the company was also the first in Malaysia to transition to 100% paper straws across its entire UHT range, helping eliminate more than 1.2 billion plastic straws from the environment to date.
