Biodiversity
We can do a lot within our supply chains to help conserve and enhance biodiversity. Through increasing regenerative agriculture practices, we can help protect waterways, improve farm management, and support the planting of trees, hedgerows and cover crops.
Our efforts to enhance biodiversity are integrated in our Net Zero Roadmap, our Nestlé Agriculture Framework, and our approaches to forests, responsible sourcing and water.
Biodiversity loss is among the greatest challenges facing our business and the planet. Tackling the main drivers of biodiversity loss (i.e., climate change, invasive species, pollution, the exploitation of natural resources, and changes in land and sea use) is central to the initiatives and programs we have rolled out in the farms and landscapes where we source our ingredients.
Through our regenerative agriculture initiatives we support farms to improve agrobiodiversity by managing crop diversity, promoting mixed farming (crops and livestock) and enhancing species diversity.
Key terms explained
Net zero
Nestlé has committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 at the latest. In 2020, we published our timebound plan, the Nestlé Net Zero Roadmap (pdf, 16Mb), which underpins our Group’s climate strategy and acts as our transition plan aligned with a 1.5°C pathway as validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). We will balance any remaining emissions through high-quality natural climate solutions. Read more about net zero.
Regenerative agriculture
In line with the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, Nestlé defines regenerative agriculture as an approach to farming which aims to conserve and restore natural resources, primarily soil, as well as water and biodiversity, while capturing carbon in soils and plant biomass, and to support farmers’ livelihoods. Examples of regenerative agriculture practices include reduced tillage and agroforestry. More information is available in our Nestlé Agriculture Framework (pdf, 19Mb). Read more about regenerative agriculture.
Responsible sourcing
For Nestlé, responsible sourcing means improving the traceability of our ingredients and monitoring how they are produced. This involves applying our environmental and human rights requirements - detailed in our Responsible Sourcing Core Requirements (pdf, 2Mb) - at the different stages of our supply chain. Examples of these requirements include that land and resources of Indigenous peoples and local communities are respected and that no deforestation and no conversion of forests and other ecosystems occur in our supply chain. Read more about responsible sourcing.
Net zero
Nestlé has committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 at the latest. In 2020, we published our timebound plan, the Nestlé Net Zero Roadmap (pdf, 16Mb), which underpins our Group’s climate strategy and acts as our transition plan aligned with a 1.5°C pathway as validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). We will balance any remaining emissions through high-quality natural climate solutions. Read more about net zero.
Regenerative agriculture
In line with the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, Nestlé defines regenerative agriculture as an approach to farming which aims to conserve and restore natural resources, primarily soil, as well as water and biodiversity, while capturing carbon in soils and plant biomass, and to support farmers’ livelihoods. Examples of regenerative agriculture practices include reduced tillage and agroforestry. More information is available in our Nestlé Agriculture Framework (pdf, 19Mb). Read more about regenerative agriculture.
Responsible sourcing
For Nestlé, responsible sourcing means improving the traceability of our ingredients and monitoring how they are produced. This involves applying our environmental and human rights requirements - detailed in our Responsible Sourcing Core Requirements (pdf, 2Mb) - at the different stages of our supply chain. Examples of these requirements include that land and resources of Indigenous peoples and local communities are respected and that no deforestation and no conversion of forests and other ecosystems occur in our supply chain. Read more about responsible sourcing.
Our progress
8773352
* The scope of this KPI includes the following ingredient categories: dairy (i.e. fresh milk and milk derivatives); coffee; cereals and grains; soy; vegetables; cocoa; palm oil; sugar; fish and seafood; meat, poultry and eggs.
Learn more in the Environmental Disclosures section of our 2025 Non-Financial Statement (pdf, 12Mb).
Our work on forests
Forests are vital for storing carbon in the biomass and soil and for preserving biodiversity (they are home to 80% of our land-based species).
For more than 15 years, we have been addressing deforestation within our supply chains, and helping to safeguard and restore forests and peatlands that also function as carbon sinks.
We work with Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IP&LCs) in our critical sourcing regions because they can be the best stewards of forests. We have implemented long-term forest conservation and restoration projects within our supply chains, which help to improve livelihoods in forest areas, respecting the rights of IP&LCs.
Learning from the birds
The presence of birds is a good indicator that populations of other animals are likely to be doing well, that water is clean and that soils and forests are healthy. By monitoring birds, we can tell if existing farm practices are promoting biodiversity or if further investments are required in a given landscape.
Studies of bird populations, led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, conducted in 2019 and 2020, showed that in most cases, farming clusters in the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program performed almost as well as protected areas.
Read more about biodiversity programs supported by Nespresso.
Long-tailed Manakin by Guillermo Saborio Vega / Macaulay Library.
