Nestlé's push for green packaging, Greenpeace not convinced

They've been accused of being one of the biggest contributors of plastic waste that's polluting landfill sites and oceans.

And Nestle has come under heavy criticism for not taking action.

Now, the Swiss food group is opening a research institute

aimed at developing more sustainable packaging.

The maker of KitKat chocolate bars and Nescafe instant coffee has vowed to make 100 percent of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.

Its Chief Executive Mark Schneider.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) NESTLE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO), MARK SCHNEIDER, SAYING:

"We are collaborating with different partners, with academic institutions, industrial partners or startups, but we cannot solely depend on this. We want to be in the driver's seat when it comes to developing more sustainable packaging solutions for our products.

Nestle wants to produce wrapping materials that have fewer layers and are easier to recycle

as well as being made from compostable and biodegradable packaging.

It's also said it wants to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

following in the footsteps of container shipping giant Maersk, which made the same pledge last year.

Environmental group Greenpeace's spokesman Mathias Schlegel says Nestle could have done more.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) SPOKESMAN FOR GREENPEACE SWITZERLAND, MATHIAS SCHLEGEL, SAYING:

"They could have tackled the forest issues when we made our first complaints 10 years ago, and we are still not satisfied by the policies and the strategies on this issue. So, yes, they could have changed the strategies, the business model a long time ago."

According to research released in July

An estimated 2.1 billion metric tonnes of plastic waste are generated each year.

As the tide of plastic becomes a growing political issue

Major packaged goods sellers are under pressure to cut the flow of the single-use plastics that are clogging the world's waterways.