Nespresso plans to spend 500 million Swiss francs ($550 million) in the next six years in an effort to improve the environmental and social impact of Europe’s biggest single-serve coffee brand.
The Nestle SA (NESN) division’s sustainability program will include 15 million francs to assist farmers in Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan, Nespresso said in a statement today. It also plans to increase the recycling of Nespresso capsules and reduce the company’s carbon footprint by 10 percent and become carbon-neutral.
Nespresso is expanding its efforts after exceeding goals set in 2009 to improve farmer welfare through sustainable coffee sourcing. The brand has faced increasing competition from lower-priced systems as well as capsules made by rivals that work in its machines.
