"We care about the communities where our coffee grows as much as we do about creating memorable experiences for our customers."
a sustainable future
Our commitment
A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
At Nespresso, sustainability is built into everything we do. That is not only because we care about the people and the planet, but because our future depends on being responsible now and in the years to come.
So, we focus on creating shared value for our customers, the farmers we work with, and for society as a whole. It is only by delivering long-term positive impact for everybody that we can be sure we’ll be able to continue supplying our exceptional quality coffee in the future.
Our sustainability strategy, called The Positive Cup, seeks to improve the quality of our products and services while minimising our impact across our entire value chain – from sourcing to supply, from operations to delivery. As part of The Positive Cup sustainability strategy, we have invested CHF 1.2 bio in sustainability initiatives since 2014.
In 2014, we launched the Nespresso Sustainability Innovation Fund (NSIF), a funding vehicle that facilitates our investment in innovative sustainability initiatives that go beyond our usual business operations, with a commitment of $10 million (2016-2018). We seek to complement each project’s funding with institutional donor resources or, if appropriate, impact investment capital, while ensuring tangible economic, social and environmental return on investment together with a range of experts from academia, NGOs, international development agencies and impact investors.
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COFFEE SOURCING
THE NESPRESSO AAA SUSTAINABLE QUALITY™ PROGRAM
We developed the AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program in 2003 with the internationally recognised NGO The Rainforest Alliance to create a sustainable supply of the highest quality coffee, while protecting the environment and improving the lives of the coffee farmers we work with and their communities.
The goal is to help them improve their farming practices, increase their productivity and manage their farms – and their futures – in a more sustainable way. 91% of our coffee is sourced sustainably through the AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program.
RESOURCES
WATER STEWARDSHIP
Water is crucial to a sustainable coffee supply, so we work hard to manage it well across our entire value chain.
In Colombia, we’ve been working with the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) to set up water treatment plants and have co-financed the installation of a central mill.
In our Swiss factories, production processes have been optimized to ensure water is recovered and reused whenever possible. The water from nearby rivers is also used to generate electricity for cooling.
NATURAL CLIMATE SOLUTIONS
TREE-PLANTING
Trees are critical to coffee-growing. They help soils to regenerate and conserve water, while tree canopies protect crops against extreme weather conditions.
Agroforestry – planting trees around or among crops – can boost biodiversity, reduce soil erosion and help farmers adapt to the effects of climate change while diversifying their income. That’s why, together with our partners Pur Projet and Ecocert, we’re helping farmers transition to agroforestry models. Since 2014, we’ve delivered 9 million trees for carbon removals within AAA landscapes out of the 10m trees delivered since 2014.
CIRCULARITY
CLOSING THE LOOP
We invest in dedicated recycling programs to enable consumers everywhere to recycle their Nespresso capsules.
We created our first recycling scheme in 1991 in Switzerland. With a global recycling rate of 35% through collective recycling schemes and Nespresso dedicated recycling centers, over 96% of Nespresso aluminium capsules are bought by household consumers who have access to a convenient collection option.
We continue to engage with our people, partners, Nespresso coffee lovers and municipalities to increase capsule recycling.
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In addition, in 2018, we announced the opening our recycling scheme to other portioned coffee manufacturers, offering a global solution for the whole category to improve accessibility and convenience of aluminium capsule recycling. Aluminium is can be recycled again and again and the aluminium from recycled Nespresso capsules has many and varied uses; from car engines to computers to cans, and even new coffee capsules.
We work with local authorities to ensure our capsules can be collected and, in some countries, we have access to the public recycling infrastructure when it can process small light items such as coffee capsules.
We’re also proud co-founders of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), which launched the first-ever global standard for sustainable aluminium. Our commitment is to source responsibly produced aluminium for all of our capsules and to create a closed-loop and circular system.
We’re not only interested in recycling our capsules. We’ve also implemented initiatives to recycle used Nespresso machines, which are 95% recyclable, as well as transforming spent coffee grounds into biogas and nutrient-rich fertiliser.
"We are working to shape a waste-free future and drive behaviour change towards a circular economy."
COFFEE AS A FORCE FOR GOOD
THE REVIVING ORIGINS PROGRAM
We launched our Reviving Origins program to restore coffee farming and local coffee economies in regions affected by adversities such as conflict, economic hardship and environmental disasters.
The program provides support to rebuild sustainable livelihoods for farmers and their communities while preserving the future of some of the world’s rarest, most exquisite coffees. We are investing CHF 10 million over a period of five years (2019-2023).
Our Reviving Origins program currently supports ongoing farming and community projects in Colombia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Puerto Rico and Cuba. It is part of Nespresso’s overall commitment to its sustainability program, The Positive Cup, with CHF 1.2 bio invested in sustainability initiatives since 2014.
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Through our Reviving Origins program, we are bringing back forgotten coffees, boosting economic development and sharing a new taste experience with consumers.
TARGETS
Our Sustainability Goals
DECARBONISE THE VALUE CHAIN
CONVICTION
WE BELIEVE THAT A LOW-CARBON ECONOMY IS THE ONLY FUTURE
AMBITION
So we will aim to reduce and remove emissions throughout our value chain even as our business evolves
Goal
Net zero GHG emissions
IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SCIENCE BASED TARGETS
Goal Timing
By 2050
REGENERATE LANDSCAPES
CONVICTION
WE BELIEVE THAT NATURE IS OUR GREATEST ALLY IN SECURING THE FUTURE OF COFFEE
AMBITION
So we will scale up regenerative agricultural practices to help restore landscapes and enhance farmer's livelihoods
Goal
Source 95% of AAA coffee from farms practicing regenerative agriculture
IN COLLBORATION WITH
RAINFOREST ALLIANCE
Goal Timing
By 2030
EMPOWER COMMUNITIES
CONVICTION
WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY FARM AND FARMER IS UNIQUE AND NO ONE SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND
AMBITION
So we will expand proven solutions that build resilient communities and transform livelihoods
Goal
All AAA smallholder farmers in Colombia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico and Peru receives the Living
Income Preference Price
IN COLLBORATION WITH
FAIRTRADE
Goal Timing
By 2030
ADVANCE CIRCULARITY
CONVICTION
WE BELIEVE THAT NO RESOURCE SHOULD BE THROWN AWAY
AMBITION
So we will do everything we can to avoid waste
Goal
60% global aluminium capsule recycling rate
Goal Timing
By 2030
INSPIRE COLLECTIVE ACTION
CONVICTION
WE BELIEVE THAT COFFEE CAN BE A FORCE FOR GOOD
AMBITION
So we will harness the strength of our brand, people and partnerships for positive impact
Goal
Renew B Corptm certification with a B Impact score >90
AS MEASURED BY
LAB
Goal Timing
By 2025
