Nestlé has set out the main priorities for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Nestlé stated that almost two thirds of the company's total emissions are related to agriculture. In order to prevent these emissions, Nestlé, together with its suppliers, will change the way food is industry. Agricultural practices will move to regenerative agriculture to benefit nature and increase farmers' incomes.
The main components of Nestlé's production in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa are cocoa, coffee and milk, so Nestlé focuses on healthy soils, climate-neutral dairy farms, as well as sustainable cocoa and coffee production.
Marco Settembri, Head of Nestlé in Europe,the Middle East and North Africa, said: "Our healthy soils, low-emission dairy farms and sustainably sourced cocoa and coffee projects show promising results. We are confident that this cooperation with farmers and suppliers can be expanded to achieve our climate neutrality goal."
Nestlé is already implementing a number of initiatives to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Here are some examples:
- With participation in programmes such as Living Soils in France andLENsin the UK, Nestlé enables farmers to opt out of or use pesticides less, as well as various methods such as permanent soil cover, plant rotation and soil treatment. Such measures help to maintain more carbon dioxide and water in the ground and to build healthier soils.
- To develop dairy products that are good for both humans and the planet, Nestlé will expand measures in the milk supply chain. The company's goal is carbon dioxide release neutral dairy farms. Nestlé's Climate-friendly Milkprojects in Switzerland andFirst Milkin the UK have already achieved significant results in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in more than 220 dairy farms. The measures include the implementation of various better breeding initiatives, such as keeping cows longer, using more local feed and working on the health of cows.
- By 2025, 100% of the cocoa and coffee used by Nestlé will be sustainably sourced. To achieve this, Nestlé is working with farmers to prevent deforestation and is implementing an ambitious forest recovery plan. In 2020, the company launched a public-private partnership to preserve and restore the Cavalry Forest. It is one of the last remaining biodiversity hotspots in Côte d'Ivoire.
Katja Seidenschnur,Director of Sustainability at Nestlé in Europe,the Middle East and NorthAfrica, said: "We are working with farmers, reorienting the range of goods towards more plant products and introducing carbon neutral brands. In addition, we review production and distribution processes, as well as make packaging more in-circulation. All these measures will help us move forward towards neutrality. We use our international R&D network to meet our climate commitments. I call for work with the entire value chain and governments to do this!"
By 2025, all 800 Nestlé sites worldwide will use 100% renewable electricity. In 80 plants from about 130 across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, the company relies on 100 percent renewable electricity.
For example, three Nestlé plants in the United Arab Emirates currently install 25 thousand solar panels. They will generate 10 GW➙h of electricity per year, preventing the release of at least six million kilograms of carbon dioxide each year, equivalent to almost 1 500 passenger car emissions per year.