George Clooney's magnetic sex appeal made us all crave a steaming cup of Nespresso coffee, right? Nespresso has positioned itself as the sexy, luxury player in the coffee industry—and has taken the lead in brand awareness and market share. Now, Nespresso is about to set a new record: by 2022, every cup of Nespresso will be carbon neutral. 

How exactly are Nespresso going to make every cup of their coffee carbon neutral? According to the CEO of Nespresso, our future depends on extending and expanding sustainability commitments. As a result, Nespresso is accelerating its mission to offer consumers a way to enjoy a carbon-neutral cup of coffee by 2022. A guilt-free coffee made from sustainably-sourced beans —what more could we want?

“Our business and the coffee industry can be a force for good in the world and I hope that our commitment will encourage others to follow,” says Guillaume Le Cunff, CEO of Nespresso. Nespresso will achieve carbon neutrality through the following initiatives:

Carbon emission reduction

Decarbonization of Nespresso's value chain is a critical component of the company's vision. These immediate measures include converting all Nespresso shops to 100% renewable energy, and boosting the usage of biogas in the manufacturing process. Additionally, Nespresso is increasing the use of recycled plastic in their machines, as well as recycled and low-carbon virgin aluminium in their coffee capsules, to increase the circularity of their products and packaging.

Planting trees in coffee farms and the surrounding landscapes (insetting)

Investing in nature and developing a regenerative agriculture system while using trees to sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Trees give the necessary shade to boost the quality and quantity of a coffee harvest. The roots also aid in the prevention of soil erosion and landslides, as well as the promotion of soil regeneration. Nespresso will triple its insetting in coffee-producing countries such as Colombia, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Costa Rica with the help of its partner Pur Projet.

Accelerate to make an immediate positive impact (offsetting initiatives)

Nespresso will also fund projects that promote forest conservation and restoration, as well as the implementation of clean energy solutions in rural communities.

As the saying goes, “Everyone should believe in something”. Well, I believe I’ll have a delicious cup of carbon-neutral coffee, thanks to Nespresso and their eco-efforts.