The company’s flagship instant coffee label rolled out the “Nescafé Plan 2030” in 2022 to help coffee growers shift towards farming techniques that protect soil health, boost productivity and cut greenhouse gas emissions tied to coffee production. Farmers participating in the plan reduced emissions by 20 to 40 percent per kilogram of unroasted beans last year, according to Nestlé.
Nescafé aims to cut its carbon footprint further by sourcing half its coffee from farms using regenerative agriculture by 2030. Key practices promoted under the plan include better fertiliser use for healthier soils and lower emissions, planting cover crops to enhance biodiversity and limit agrochemical reliance, and restoring land by planting native trees to capture carbon and support water conservation.
Alongside climate benefits, the programme also works on social goals like upholding human rights and protecting children and workers across its supply chain.
Coffee remains one of the most traded crops globally, yet its production faces a serious climate threat. A recent Carbon Disclosure Project study suggests that climate change could shrink land suitable for growing coffee by as much as 97 percent in key regions by 2050. Most of coffee’s carbon footprint is generated before beans leave the farm, largely due to deforestation, fertiliser use and processing techniques.
“Farmers are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of these [regenerative agriculture] practices, as shown by the increased adoption rates,” said Axel Touzet, head of Nestlé’s coffee brands strategic business unit. “This encourages us to continue the work we do with our partners, suppliers and farmers in the regions where we source our coffee.”