SWITZERLAND – Nestlé’s Nespresso brand has signed a new partnership with the European metal corporation, Rio Tinto use 100% responsibly sourced and certified aluminium in its coffee capsules by 2020.
Nestle will become the first to use responsibly-sourced aluminium with the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certification.
This is a great milestone by the coffee brand towards reducing the impact that the world’s second most used base metal has on the planet.
“Nespresso is proud to have been a driving force in creating and implementing the ASI.
Together we have made responsibly sourced aluminium a reality, and the ASI traceability mechanism will enable us to meet our commitment to customers to reduce the impact of their consumption.
This is a positive step towards creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future,” said Nespresso CEO Jean-Marc Duvoisin.
As an active member of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), Nespresso is joining with other industry and civil society stakeholders in addressing the world’s common problems associated with aluminium use.
The new ASI Performance Standard sets criteria to drive responsible environmental & social performance, and business ethics across the entire aluminium value chain.
Aluminium has wide applications in packaging, transport, construction and electrical sectors due to its unmatched properties that is, lightweight, durable and strong.
Nespresso said this builds on the collaboration it has with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and other stakeholders to assess sustainability challenges, opportunities and needs surrounding the aluminium value chain.
The ASI certification sets out standards to promote the protection of biodiversity, respect for native peoples’ rights, water management and low-carbon emissions during the production of aluminium.
It also creates a traceability mechanism to ensure that the aluminium has been manufactured by ASI-certified producers throughout the process.
The holistic approach of Nespresso to responsibly managed aluminium aligns with the company’s larger sustainability strategy, called The Positive Cup.
Under this program announced in 2014, Nespresso set ambitious sustainability targets to meet by 2020 in the areas of coffee sourcing and social welfare; aluminium sourcing, use and disposal; and resilience to climate change.
“As a company that relies on aluminium to protect the freshness and aromas of our highest quality coffees, we believe that this new credible and practical standard for sustainable aluminium will provide for greater transparency across the aluminium supply chain and will benefit consumers, companies and the environment,” said Jean-Marc.
