Photo: https://www.nestle.com/stories/nestle-helps-save-kinabatangan-river
Nestlé has announced it will plant three million trees through Project RiLeaf in Malaysia by 2023, committing to invest CHF4 million in this project. The announcement is part of Nestlé’s reforestation initiative designed to accelerate Nestlé’s global pledge to address climate change by achieving zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Chris Johnson, executive vice president, Nestlé S.A., c.e.o., zone Asia, Oceania, and sub-Saharan Africa, says, “We are mindful of the urgent need to address climate change, which is a threat to the sustainability of our business as well as for the planet’s future.”
Trees planted through Project RiLeaf are intended to increase biodiversity in Malaysia, as well as absorb carbon emissions.
Johnson adds that, “Planting trees in locations where Nestlé sources its ingredients is contributing to the responsible management of our supply chain. Furthermore, reforestation complements our efforts to halt deforestation in our supply chains.”
Project RiLeaf dovetails on the work of the innovative Kinabatangan RiLeaf Project, established by Nestlé in 2011, which facilitated the planting of one million trees in Sabah. This initiative with Project RiLeaf will scale up Nestlé’s efforts to restore riparian areas and forested lands in locations where palms are grown, which will establish new wildlife corridors to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and reduce negative impact on critical water supplies.
Lastly, the project will provide opportunities for education and jobs in the local communities.