The Nespresso Sustainability Advisory Board (NSAB) brings together experts and thought leaders in sustainability – NGOs, academics, international organisations and our brand ambassador, George Clooney – to channel external advice on the role that private sector organisations can play in addressing societal challenges.

Founded in 2013, on the 10th anniversary of the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program the Board meets annually to discuss the challenges facing the industry and to offer advice to Nespresso on how to address them.

BALANCING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXPERTISE

The NSAB plays an important role in supporting our ambition to be a sustainability leader in the coffee sector and ensures our internal strategy is always complemented – and challenged – by the perspectives gained through external consultation.  

TOPICS AND DISCUSSION POINTS FROM THE NSAB MEETINGS

LOCATION: PARIS, FRANCE

KEY HIGHLIGHT: REVIVING

With Reviving Origins’ 10-year anniversary as a backdrop, the 2024 meeting embraced a spirit of reinvigoration and inspiration by focusing on the work we’re doing to “revive” – revive nature; coffee origins; the work of circularity at scale; and confidence in the private sector’s ability to support a transition to a low-carbon and inclusive future. The event also revived the Board’s innovative and collaborative spirits by taking place in the context of the 2024 ChangeNOW summit – an annual, three-day event that brings together the world’s most impactful changemakers to accelerate action on our planet’s pressing challenges.

LOCATION: FIRST VIRTUAL NSAB
KEY HIGHLIGHT: PREPARING FOR THE DECISIVE DECADE

As a consequence of the pandemic and international travel restrictions, 2020 was the first NSAB to be hosted online.
The Board took time to discuss the major challenges facing corporations in the current context, including the continued low international market prices affecting smallholders, the impact of COVID-19 in farming communities, and the need to accelerate climate change actions. Importantly, the Board reviewed the draft strategic framework Nespresso is developing for its sustainability strategy post-2020 and the completion of The Positive Cup strategic and reporting cycle. 

Location: New York, USA
Key highlight: Sustainable Finance
 

The 2016 NSAB meeting saw the launch of the Nespresso Sustainability Innovation Fund (NSIF), and reviewed Nespresso's progress in implementing the Positive Cup strategy towards 2020. The following topics were discussed:
 

• AAA farming resilience and coffee revival programs
• Landscape management, natural capital and climate change
• Capsules & systems – resource efficiency and sustainable consumption
• Engaging consumers in sustainable consumption
• Nespresso Sustainability Innovation Fund
   

Location: Milan, Italy
Key highlight: The Launch of The Positive Cup

In 2014, the Board reviewed and updated the ambitious sustainability initiatives presented in 2013. The focus was primarily around securing the highest-quality coffee beans by strengthening the farmers’ resilience to socio-economic and environmental challenges, and ensuring the sustainable management of aluminium across our complete value chain. The following topics were discussed:

• The expansion of the AAA Program in Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan)
• The involvement of Nespresso in reviving the coffee industry in South Sudan
• The AAA Farmer Future pilot signed in Colombia and the expansion of the programme
• The AAA Agroforestry Program in Guatemala and the expansion of this initiative

Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
Key highlight: Company Engagement

During the inaugural meeting of NSAB, the Board examined the main themes of “People” and “Planet”, with a focus on the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program and driving economic, social and environmental sustainability in coffee growing communities. The following areas were discussed:
 

• The AAA Program in Africa
• The AAA Farmer Future Program in Colombia
• The AAA Agroforestry Program

^{Article updated in: February 2024}