Nespresso coffee to be carbon neutral by 2022

18 / 09 / 2020

By Marwa Nassar - -

Nespresso announced its commitment to every cup of Nespresso coffee, both for at-home and for professional customers, will be carbon neutral by 2022.

This new ambition builds on more than 10 years of work during which Nespresso has reduced its carbon emissions and compensated the remainder through agroforestry.

“Climate change is a reality and our future depends on going further and faster on our sustainability commitments. That is why we are accelerating our commitments to offer our consumers a way to drink a carbon neutral cup of coffee by 2022. A coffee, made from the finest and rarest beans, sustainably sourced. I truly believe that both our business and the coffee industry can be a force for good in the world by tackling this pressing issue,” said Guillaume Le Cunff, CEO of Nespresso.

Nespresso will achieve carbon neutrality through the following initiatives; the reduction of carbon emission; the planting of trees in and around coffee farms where Nespresso sources its coffee (insetting); and through support and investment in high quality offsetting projects.

The company seeks to decarbonize its value chain through sustainable energy usage within Nespresso’s operations – driving towards 100% renewable energy in all Nespresso boutiques and increasing the use of biogas within the manufacturing process.

Nespresso also works on expanding circularity of Nespresso products and packaging through increasing the use of recycled plastic within its machines, as well as of recycled and low carbon virgin aluminium within coffee capsules.

As for planting trees in coffee farms and the surrounding landscapes (insetting), trees are the best way to capture carbon from the atmosphere while investing in nature and building 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.

With its partner Pur Projet, Nespresso will triple the capacity of planting trees (with insetting) in coffee producing countries such as Colombia, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Costa Rica.

Nespresso also seeks accelerating efforts to make an immediate positive impact (offsetting initiatives) through investing in projects to support forest conservation and restoration as well as implement clean energy solutions within farming communities.

This carbon neutral commitment is part of a broader sustainability ambition that will be further communicated later this year in order to preserve exceptional coffees, build a resilient and regenerative coffee agriculture system, drive sustainable livelihoods for farmers and build a circular business.