Nestlé Pakistan Wins Two Sustainability Awards at 29th SDC and Sustainability Investment Expo

Nestlé Pakistan has received two honours at the 29th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) and Sustainability Investment Expo (SIE) held in Islamabad, where policymakers, development organisations and private-sector leaders gathered to discuss pathways toward more resilient and sustainable growth. The company was recognised with the Sustainability Award in the Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency category and the Best Pavilion Presentation Award, according to a statement issued on the sidelines of the event.

The award was presented by Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting. The recognitions highlight Nestlé Pakistan's work on climate action and responsible production, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 13 on climate action, SDG 2 on zero hunger and SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production.

As part of the conference, Nestlé Pakistan co-hosted a high-level plenary titled "Transforming Pakistan's Agriculture and Food Systems in an Age of Disruption: AI for Regenerative and Climate-Smart Agriculture." The session brought together representatives from the World Food Programme, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), LUMS and other stakeholders to examine how regenerative farming, technology and partnerships can strengthen food systems under mounting climate and economic pressure.

Faisal Nadeem, Head of Technical at Nestlé Pakistan, opened the discussion by noting the growing strain on cultivable land and soil health, and called for a faster shift toward regenerative agriculture. Katarzyna Grzybowska, Sustainability Delivery Manager at Nestlé S.A. Global, said the company aims to source 50 percent of its key ingredients from farmers adopting regenerative practices by 2030, adding that Nestlé Pakistan is already roughly halfway toward that target. She stressed that solutions must reflect local conditions and keep farmer economics at the centre.

Anita Hirsch, Country Director of the World Food Programme Pakistan, emphasised continuity of food supply and the use of community-based approaches, AI and supply-chain tools to strengthen food security. Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI, highlighted the potential of AI and public-private partnerships, while Dr Zaigham Shahzad of LUMS pointed to education, research and innovation, including a recently launched certification programme with Nestlé.

The company said these themes are already reflected in its operations. Nestlé Pakistan is scaling regenerative agriculture across 125 farms, supported by 135 solar systems and 25 biogas plants, alongside drip irrigation on 299 acres and smart soil moisture sensors on 722 acres. The company reported a 48 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and 100 percent water regeneration for its Waters business, while its Clean Gilgit-Baltistan Project has helped manage more than 11,000 tons of plastic and paper packaging waste.