Nestle launches 2030 sustainability plan

Swiss F&B processing giant to invest Us$1bil

“Building on 10 years experience of the Nescafe Plan, we’re accelerating our work to help tackle climate change.” David Rennie

PETALING JAYA: Nescafe, Nestle’s largest coffee brand, continues its efforts to further drive sustainability in coffee farming by launching Nescafe Plan 2030, where it is earmarked to invest over one billion Swiss francs (Rm4.7bil) by 2030.

The investment, which builds on the existing Nescafe Plan launched in 2010, is to support coffee farmers to drive regenerative agriculture, which in turn helps to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as improve their livelihoods.

Under its Nescafe Plan 2030, the group aims to source 20% of its coffee through regenerative agricultural methods by 2025, while by 2050, the group aims to produce half of its coffee through the aforementioned method.

Regenerative agriculture is a process that helps improve soil health and soil fertility, while simultaneously capturing carbon in soils and plant biomass.

According to Nestle, it contributes to drawing down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reducing emissions of GHGS.

“Consequently, regenerative agriculture helps improve the resilience of farmland to climate change and can therefore help improve farmers’ livelihoods,” Nestle said when it first unveiled its plans to support the transition to a regenerative food system last year.

Other goals under the plan include the target of 100% responsibly sourced coffee by 2025 and a 50% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2050.

The company also aims to increase farmers’ income.

According to the group, responsibly sourced coffee is traceable to the group of farms where it was grown and is produced in accordance with sustainability standards that have been validated.

With regards to the matter being addressed, Nestle head of coffee brands David Rennie said climate change is posing a threat to coffee-growing areas.

“Building on 10 years experience of the Nescafe Plan, we’re accelerating our work to help tackle climate change and address social and economic challenges in the Nescafé value chains,” he said.

In a press release on the launch, Nestle cited a few reports, including one by the InterAmerican Development Bank, a corporation that works to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean through financial and technical support, which said: “Rising temperatures will reduce the area suitable for growing coffee by up to 50% by 2050.”

Citing other reports, Nestle said: “At the same time, around 125 million people depend on coffee for their livelihoods, and an estimated 80% of coffee-farming families live at or below the poverty line.”

“Action is needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of coffee,” the multinational food and drink processing giant added.

Meanwhile, Nestle head of coffee strategic business unit Philipp Navratil said Nescafe aims to have a real impact on coffee farming globally.

“We want coffee farmers to thrive as much as we want coffee to have a positive impact on the environment. Our actions can help drive change throughout the coffee industry.”

Nescafe is seen to be on track moving towards the transition to a more sustainable coffee maker, achieving more than its targets for 2020 under its earlier Nescafe Plan.