Nudging Sustainability at Ferrero: A Product Quality Specialist’s perspective
Abhishek is a Ferrero Nudge 2022 Alumni who, in reflecting on his transformative journey with the Nudge Global Impact Challenge, cites it as a pivotal achievement in his decade-long career at Ferrero. He says his participation in the programme not only shaped his professional trajectory but also fuelled his passion for sustainability initiatives.
Celebrating with less waste
Joining the Nudge programme was driven by a desire to contribute to sustainability efforts, which is why my project addressed the environmental impact of Diwali celebrations in India. During the celebrations, a significant amount of plastic waste is generated, and since most houses in India use lanterns made of plastic for Diwali, I decided to develop a plan to repurpose residual paper from Ferrero’s production processes, transforming it into lanterns. In doing so, I was hoping to reduce plastic waste while promoting eco-friendly alternatives during these important festivities.
“Everyone in the programme, even those whose projects weren’t chosen, showed competence in not giving up, which is a lesson I’ll treasure my entire life. I’m thankful to the entire Ferrero group, all participants, and the management team in Baramati and Luxembourg for giving me this opportunity.”
Teamwork and collaboration, the path for change
The experience was amazing, and the overall feeling of empowerment and inclusion was truly profound. So much so, I get goosebumps when talking about it.
My journey with Nudge has not only enriched my professional growth but enhanced my interpersonal relationships and the communication within my team. Through collaborative projects and experiential learning, I’ve gained invaluable insights into effective teamwork and leadership.
Universal humanity
The programme has helped foster a deeper understanding of cultural diversity and the universal human experience and I’ve realized that despite cultural and geographical differences, human emotions and aspirations are similar worldwide. This is something I still reflect on. I’ve also learned the importance of backward planning, which will help me stay focused and aligned on objectives by planning in reverse order from the desired outcome. We can’t just talk about things like environmental conservation; we need to take action, and implement these ideas.
My experience in three words:
Empowerment
Growth
Responsibility
Some final advice for prospective participants
Ferrero’s partnership with Nudge aligns well with the core values of loyalty, dignity, trust, respect, and responsibility. It acts as a catalyst among all our activities at Ferrero. It also helps enhance one’s view on inclusion and diversity, which goes far beyond being selected for the programme.
Joining Nudge means making an impact within a safe, empowered, and motivated work environment. I would definitely recommend the programme. It’s like a much-needed glucose boost during a hike – it gives you the energy and perspective to climb higher.