From developing our first prototype in the 1970s to The Positive Cup strategy of today, we have been learning how to integrate sustainability into our business. Looking to the future, we are seeking ever closer alignment of our ambitions and goals with the Sustainable Development Goals – the global priorities towards 2030.
1970s
Prototypes of the first system to deliver barista-quality coffee at home are developed
1986
Our revolutionary system of portioned coffee was born with machines and capsules designed to deliver an exceptional cup of coffee
1991
The first Nespresso capsule recycling programme is introduced in Switzerland with 34 collection points
1993
Nespresso joins the collective recycling system in Germany with the support of Duales System Deutschland
2003
Designed to improve farm practices and promote the supply of sustainable quality coffee, the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program is launched, in collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance
2005
A detailed lifecycle assessment of a cup of Nespresso highlights the relative significance of Scope 3 – emissions that occur within our value chain but that are not owned or controlled by Nespresso
2009
Launch of Ecolaboration™ in which we set out our plan for creating shared value:
- 80% AAA coffee sourcing
- 75% capsule collection capacity
- -20% GHG emission/cup
2013
Inaugural meeting of the Nespresso Sustainability Advisory Board to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program
2014
Launch of The Positive Cup and a commitment to invest CHF 500m in positive impact
2015
Nespresso launches the Vertuo system – providing additional sustainable consumption opportunities with long-cup, high-quality coffee at the touch of a button
2016
The launch of the Nespresso Sustainability Innovation Fund (NSIF): USAID and the World Bank become the first partners to join the Fund
2017
The first Creating Shared Value report is published in accordance with GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, is launched
2022
20 YEARS OF THE NESPRESSO SUSTAINABLE QUALITY™ PROGRAM
30 YEARS OF RECYCLING
Nespresso becomes a B Corp™ certified company
BY 2025
REGENERATE LANDSCAPES
80% of our green coffee volume will be rated bronze on the Rainforest Alliance Regenerative Coffee Scorecard
10 biodiversity priority areas, representing over 60% of the area managed under the AAA Program (in hectares), will have an action plan in place
EMPOWER COMMUNITIES
We aim to scale the Living Income Reference Price with Fairtrade International implemented in all AAA farms in Colombia, Peru, Indonesia, Mexico and Guatemala
ADVANCE CIRCULARITY
Our aim is that at least 10% of our machine sales will be refurbished machines
We aim to achieve a global capsule recycling rate of 50%1
INSPIRE COLLECTIVE ACTION
By 2025, we will have invested more than CHF 1 billion in Positive Cup initiatives2
Renew B Corp™ certification with a B Impact score ≥903
BY 2030
DECARBONISE THE VALUE CHAIN
Milestone to reduce by -75% GHG emission in Green Coffee by 20304
REGENERATE LANDSCAPES
Source 95% of AAA coffee from farms practising regenerative agriculture5
EMPOWER COMMUNITIES
All AAA smallholder farmers in Colombia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico and Peru receive the Living Income Reference Price6
ADVANCE CIRCULARITY
60% global aluminium capsule recycling rate
BY 2050
Net zero7
OUR PAST IMPACT
INSPIRES THE FUTURE
1. In dedicated and collective systems.
2. Projected cumulative investment in The Positive Cup, 2014–2025.
3. Pending evolution of B Lab standards.
4. See our Near-Term SBTi target to reduce our absolute scope 3 FLAG (Forest, Land and Agricultures) emissions in The Positive Cup 2023 Progress document page 6.
5. By 2030, we aim that 95% of our green coffee volume will be rated Bronze on the Rainforest Alliance Regenerative Coffee Scorecard, out of which 70% will be rated Gold.
6. On volumes sold to Nespresso, and in origins where the LIRP has been established by Fairtrade international and the majority of AAA coffee farmers are smallholders.
7. We are committed to achieving Net zero GHG emissions by 2050 in accordance with SBTi standards, and are now accelerating towards our SBTi 2030 near-term targets, approved in May 2024.
Article updated in: April 2025
