MILO is making the switch to PAPER STRAWS, a small change that will make a huge difference, and we need your support!
MILO Sri Lanka is proud to announce that we are the 1st Ready-To-Drink beverage in Sri Lanka to switch to paper straws and start our sustainability journey towards reducing single use plastic. While this seems like a small step in a long journey, switching to paper straws has a significant impact on the environment.
The new paper straws are environment-friendly and meet Nestle’s stringent product quality standards to ensure the safety of our consumers as well as our planet. This switch is estimated to eliminate over 90,000,000 plastic straws annually.
The launch of our new paper straw also ensures that our entire pack is now 100% recyclable and this includes the paper straw wrapper too! A facility for recycling aseptic beverage cartons has been set up, supported Tetra Pak and F&B industry leaders such as Nestlé. The plant will recycle Milo RTD packs and will benefit the entire industry in Sri Lanka. We will also leverage our existing schools waste management programme, conducted together with the Ministry of Education, Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and relevant Municipal Councils, to raise awareness about responsible disposal and collect used Milo RTD packs for recycling.
Our planet Earth is the only place we have to live on and to play on… Say YES to paper straws and let’s work together to reduce plastic waste and protect our planet for a better and greener world for generations to come.
Help give second life to your Nestlé MILO cartons by dropping off at ‘Trash2Cash’ vending machines.
Did you know?
Yes, it is. We are collecting our used packs from select Municipal Councils, so please ensure you push the straw back into the Milo pack when done and place it in a bin. The waste collected is provided to local recycler Eco Maximus, who uses it to make stationery products. Our aim is to recycle as much as we can and we will announce more waste collection points at schools and retail outlets soon.
The paper straw has a lesser negative impact on the environment than a plastic straw, and can decompose back into the earth within 2-6 weeks. If they end up in the ocean, they could start to break down within three days. In contrast, studies show the plastic straws can take up to 200-300 years to decompose.
That being said, litter is any form should be avoided so please do ensure that you push the straw back into the pack and place it in a bin once consumed.
We have not yet found a paper wrap for our paper straw which meets our quality and food safety requirements. However we are currently working on a paper wrap solution that meets our standards and we will implement this as soon as it is available.
In the interim, the plastic wrapper ensures the paper straw is protected from moisture and contamination, and is safe to drink from. Please rest assured that the plastic wrapper, like the rest of the MILO UHT pack, is fully recyclable.
We are committed to ensuring that our switch to paper straws does not contribute to deforestation, and that we only procure responsibly sourced paper. Paper straws are the most environmentally friendly option for consumers needing to consume ready-to-drink beverages on the go. It has a lesser environmental impact than plastic.
It does not promote deforestation. It is in fact the opposite. All our paper straws are made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper, and we only source from suppliers that meet our strict guidelines and standards.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) 100% certification means the paper comes from responsibly managed forests and does not contribute to deforestation. It confirms that the paper sourced from forests have been audited by an independent third party to confirm they are managed according to FSC’s rigorous social and environmental standards. It is the highest mark of distinction for all FSC’s certified products.
Make sure the straw is unwrapped and inserted carefully, to ensure it is not damaged, as that would make it difficult for the liquid to travel through the straw. When inserting the straw, hold the bottom end of the paper straw at an angle and swiftly push it downwards to pierce a hole in the foil seal. Avoid jamming the straw with force through the foil seal (like you would with a plastic straw), as it might dent or bend the paper straw. Once the paper straw is in, we recommend your child consumes the product within 15 minutes (to avoid the straw getting soggy) and refrains from chewing on the straw.
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Why do you still need straws? Can’t you do without it?
Ready-to-drink beverages like Miloare typically consumed on the go. Straws help consumers drink the product easily and minimise the risk of the product spilling. Further, eliminating straws would mean we would have to look at options like plastic bottle caps, etc. Paper straws are the most environmentally friendly option for consumers needing to consume ready-to-drink beverages on the go.
Where is the paper for the straws sourced from?
We source our paper from high-quality global suppliers in Asia, who comply with our stringent responsible sourcing guidelines and supply Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)certified paper.
Why paper straws instead of other materials when these are known to have a short lifespan?
Our teams worked very hard for a solution and found that paper straws were not only effective and scalable, but most importantly, met our stringent product quality standards to ensure the safety of consumers.
What is the lifespan of each straw or rather, how quickly will consumers have to finish a MILO UHT drink pack before the straw softens?
For the best consumer experience, we recommend that product be consumed within 15 minutes of inserting the paper straw. Beyond this time, the straw may start to soften and deteriorate due to liquid absorption.
How should I dispose paper straw and wrapper?
Push the paper straw back into the pack, lift up the sides of the pack at the bottom, (i.e., the flaps at the bottom), and flatten the pack. Then place the pack along with the plastic wrapper in a bin.
Does Nestlé have plans to roll this out to more products moving forth?
All our other RTDs will switch to paper straws within the year. This will help us eliminate close to 90 million plastic straws a year.
Why does the straw soften while drinking the product?
For the best consumer experience, we recommend that product be consumed within 15 minutes of inserting the paper straw. It could start to soften faster than the recommended time if it has chewed, played with or damaged in any other way.
Is the paper straw strong enough to punch through the straw hole/foil seal?
The new paper straw has undergone sensory and straw hole puncture tests prior to launch. Results showed that it can effectively puncture the foil seal of our RTD (Ready-to-Drink) products.
