Nestlé pilots refillable vending machines for Milo, Koko Krunch in Indonesia

Nestlé is piloting refillable vending machines for its Milo and Koko Krunch brands in Indonesia for 4 to 6 months to reduce disposable packaging use.

The project is in collaboration with Indonesian digital start-up Qyos, which aims to provide households with alternatives to single-use plastic. It is supported by equipment with interface systems from Algramo, a Chilean manufacturer of ecologically friendly refill technology.

The machines have QR codes that may digitally offer product information, like ingredients and shelf life, as consumers will use their containers.

In 2021, Nestlé piloted reusable and refillable containers for Milo, Dancow, and Koko Krunch in South Jakarta, Indonesia. Customers could buy the goods from tricycle carts equipped with refillable dispensing devices.

According to Gaelle de Mestral, head of R&D packaging at Nestlé, they are actively exploring innovative, alternative delivery systems such as bulk, reuse, and refill options across several product categories. The second pilot for Milo and Koko Krunch gives them new insights that can be applied to their products and further assess the refillable system’s effectiveness in preventing packaging waste along the supply chain.