TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE

The effects of climate change on coffee-producing regions are becoming increasingly apparent.

They threaten the future of coffee agriculture and the supply of our highest-quality coffees. In recent years, adverse weather patterns and high incidence of disease has resulted in decreases in quality and a decline in productivity.

We believe that it’s our responsibility to take actions to address, and reverse, this situation, by minimising our environmental impact throughout every step of our value chain, while at the same time insetting our company’s operational carbon footprint through agroforestry initiatives.

 

 

Monitoring our footprint

Every cup of Nespresso should have a positive impact. This is our ambition. Through a Life Cycle Assessement (LCA) we monitor and seek to improve our operations, championing aluminium stewardship, innovating our machines and working directly with farmers to increase their resilience in the face of changing climate. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) carried out by Quantis, a world-leading expert in the field of environmental life cycle assessments, found that 80% of the emissions of a cup of coffee are generated by the green coffee cultivation and transportation (35%) and usage at home, including heating water and cup washing (45%).

With the Nespresso system, we optimize resources by using a precise amount of roast and ground coffee, water and energy to make one cup.

Using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), we monitor the main drivers of this footprint and make sure we take action to reduce it. This includes improving our operations, championing aluminium stewardship, innovating our machines and working directly with farmers to increase their resilience in the face of changing climate.

 

 

 

 

ALUMINIUM STEWARDSHIP

In 2009, with the support of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), we joined forces with other players in the industry to develop the first global sustainable aluminium standard. The result is the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI).​

We are founding members of the ASI, which has set the first ever global standards for sustainably, responsibly-produced aluminium. ASI certification covers critical issues for the entire aluminium value chain, including biodiversity management in mining, the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights, and emissions and waste. ​

Because it’s infinitely recyclable, aluminium also presents an excellent opportunity for a closed-loop production process. We encourage all of our consumers to recycle their capsules and today our recycling program is available in 53 countries. 91% of our consumers have access to a recycling solution accross the world. ​

We launched the first coffee capsules on the market made using 80% recycled aluminium, as part of our continued journey towards circularity, going further to minimize waste and maximize reuse of product materials.​

Made of a thinner aluminium foil, each new capsule is produced using 9.2% less aluminium material, and is therefore 8% lighter.​

Aluminium is infinitely recyclable and is one of the most widely recycled materials in the world. Recycled aluminium requires less energy to produce than a virgin product, so it is well-suited to use in a circular business model. ​

Aluminium also optimally protects the freshness and aromas of high-quality coffee, providing a perfect barrier against oxygen, light and humidity that is why we have always used aluminium in our capsules. ​

The aluminium of recycled capsules is transformed into new objects such as bicycles, soda cans, car engines and even new Nespresso capsules.

 

 

ENERGY-EFFICIENT MACHINES

Since 2009, all our machines save energy by switching to an automatic stand-by mode and automatic switch-off after just a few minutes of inactivity.

We’re also making our machines more robust, efficient and compact. Over the past 12 years, newer designs have led to significant reductions in weight and volume. Our 2016 Inissia machine is about half the weight, and just one-third of the volume, of its equivalent early 2000 machine.

 

 

 

 

INCREASING CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE

Through the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality Program™, we’re working with farmers and other partners to build resilience into coffee farming landscapes. This means implementing sustainable agricultural practises and safeguarding farms against the consequences of climate change.

From creating community wet mills to setting up pension schemes and providing farmers with technical training and assistance, we’re helping communities make small changes that have lasting impacts.

Planting trees is proving a particularly important part of the solution. The carbon sequestration of the planted trees not only helps to mitigate our carbon footprint but also to build a regenerative agricultural system. Planting trees provides the shade needed to improve the quality and quantity of a coffee harvest. The roots also help protect against soil erosion and landslides and promote soil regeneration.

Our business operations have been carbon neutral since 2017. This covers GHG emissions related to our boutiques, offices and factory activities. Our new ambition is an acceleration to achieve carbon neutrality also across our supply chain and product life cycle to address the urgent climate change issue we are all facing.