What is Nestlé doing about climate change?

Climate change is one of society's greatest challenges. It is also one of the greatest risks to producing the ingredients that go into our food and beverage products. We are acting now to become a net zero company and accelerate the move towards regenerative food systems at scale. The following are Nestlé plans and commitments at the global level. 
 

What's your plan to tackle climate change? 

In December 2020, we were one of the first food companies to publish a Climate Roadmap (pdf, 10Mb), which highlights the actions we are taking to get to net zero. 

Our ambition is to halve our absolute emissions by 2030 throughout our value chain and achieve net zero by 2050 at the latest. And we are on track to achieve this: Our emissions peaked in late 2019 and continue to decline, even as our company grows. In 2022, we achieved a reduction of 6.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Our actions focus on supporting farmers and suppliers to advance regenerative agriculture, planting 20 million trees every year for the next 10 years and completing our transition to 100% purchased renewable electricity by 2025.

What are your priority areas as a food company? 

Agriculture 

More than two-thirds of our overall emissions come from land use and agriculture. That's why regenerative agriculture and reforestation are a key part of our work.

• Our target is to source 20% of our key ingredients through regenerative agriculture by 2025, and 50% by 2030. That's more than 14 million tonnes of ingredients that will support regenerative practices. 
   
• We are working with more than 500,000 farmers and 150,000 suppliers, to advance regenerative farming practices. 
   
• We are moving towards a Forest Positive approach. Our ambition is to maintain 100% deforestation-free primary supply chains by the end of 2022 for palm oil, sugar, soy, meat, pulp and paper, and by 2025 for coffee and cocoa. We are also investing in a global reforestation program, targeting 200 million trees planted by the end of the decade.

Operations 

We are transforming our operations to reduce our emissions wherever we can. 

• By 2025, we will purchase 100% renewable electricity across our sites globally. We've already hit 60% and are well on our way to achieving this objective. 

• More than 25% of our global fleet of vehicles have switched to lower-emission options to date. 

Our portfolio 

We are evolving our product portfolio to reduce its environmental impact and help meet consumer demand for more sustainable products. 

• We're increasing our offering of plant-based foods and beverages to provide consumers with low carbon options. Recent plant-based product launches include Vuna, a delicious alternative to tuna made with just 6 ingredients, and Wunda, a pea-based milk alternative. 

• A number of our brands such as Garden Gourmet, Garden of Life or Persona are helping build agricultural supply chains based on regenerative practices.