Nespresso, the pioneer and reference-point of high-quality portioned coffee, has today announced its global certification as a B Corp. The Swiss-based brand joins an international movement of 4,500 purpose-led businesses that meet B Corp’s high standards of social and environmental responsibility and transparency – including Patagonia and The Body Shop.
The announcement is a marker for the positive impact Nespresso has made in the coffee industry and beyond since the brand was founded in 1986. Key contributing elements include its unique approach to coffee sourcing – through the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program, designed in partnership with the Rainforest Alliance – its strategic alliance with Fairtrade, and the brand’s global recycling scheme for its aluminium capsules.
Guillaume Le Cunff, Nespresso CEO, said: “B Corp certification reflects a 30-year Nespresso commitment to sustainability, transparency and responsible business. We are immensely proud to be joining a community of like minds who share our belief that profit and purpose go hand-in-hand. This certification brings added value for our customers and affirms to Nespresso fans that their favourite coffee brand is doing business the right way.”
“Most importantly, B Corp certification inspires us to do more. It strengthens our commitment to our vision that every cup of Nespresso coffee has a positive impact on the world.”
Jonathan Normand, B Lab Switzerland Founder, said: “The B Corp process is a rigorous and independent assessment of a company’s impact on people and planet, from its carbon footprint to the way it empowers its employees. Achieving the B Corp certification is a key milestone in the improvement and collective action journey, and Nespresso is rigorously engaged to make it happen with the B Corp community.
“I congratulate Nespresso on its certification and hope that this will have a knock-on effect that will lead its value chain to join the B Corp movement. As a movement designed for system change, we are happy to support them on their path to accelerate and foster an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy.”
Nespresso will add the B Corp logo to Nespresso products and communications to help spread the word about the movement, educate consumers, and help them make more sustainable choices in their purchasing decisions.
KEY FACTS: B CORP CERTIFICATION
- Nespresso scored 84 points out of 200 on the B Impact Assessment. A minimum of 80 points is required to achieve B Corp status. To date, more than 4,500 companies have achieved B Corp certification. These companies span over 150 industries and more than 70 countries.
- To certify as a B Corp, businesses must meet high standards across five areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. Nespresso scores are published transparently at bcorporation.net and sustainability.nespresso.com/b-corp-score.
- Certified B Corps are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on all stakeholders. To meet this requirement, Nespresso has updated its Articles of Association (Corporate Articles).
- B Corp certification covers Nespresso’s global business, meaning all Nespresso operations where Nespresso is a legal entity or a division of Nestlé, spanning 38 markets.
About B Lab
About B Lab: B Lab is transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. A leader in economic systems change, our global network creates standards, policies, tools, and programs for business, and we certify companies—known as B Corps—who are leading the way. To date, our community includes 380,000 workers in over 4,500 B Corps across 79 countries and 153 industries, and more than 150,000 companies manage their impact with the B Impact Assessment and the SDG Action Manager. To learn more and join the movement, visit www.bcorporation.net.
About Certified B Corporations™:
Certified B Corporations, or B Corps™, are companies verified by B Lab to meet the high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
