SWITZERLAND – Nestlé has expanded the use of the IBM Food Trust blockchain technology platform to its Zoégas coffee brand enabling consumers to trace the coffee back to the different origins.
The expansion follows the launch of select editions of Zoégas whole beans and roast & ground coffee in Sweden tagged the ‘Summer 2020’ range.
Nestle says that the ‘Summer 2020’ range is a 100% Rainforest Alliance certified blend of arabica coffee beans from three origins – Brazil, Rwanda and Colombia, and consumers can are now able to trace the coffee back to the origin, thanks to the blockchain technology.
To effect the traceability technology, Nestlé has partnered with The Rainforest Alliance to independently provide reliable data beyond what is usually disclosed by the company.
“The Rainforest Alliance provides their own certification information, guarantying the traceability of the coffee. This information is directly accessible to everyone with the IBM Food Trust blockchain platform.
“Through blockchain-recorded data, coffee lovers will now be able to trace their coffee back to the different origins,” the company explains.
By scanning the QR code on the packaging, Nestlé said that consumers can follow the coffee journey from the growing locations to the Zoégas factory in Helsingborg where the beans are roasted, grounded and packed.
The data includes information about farmers, time of harvest, transaction certificate for the specific shipments, as well as roasting period.
Nestlé started using blockchain in 2017 when it joined the IBM Food Trust as a founding member. The IBM Food Trust aims at reinforcing traceability of food products.
Over the past three years, the food and beverage firm has scaled up and diversified the use of blockchain platforms to bring its transparency and sustainability efforts to life for consumers.
The company has started giving consumers access to blockchain with IBM on products such as Mousline purée and Guigoz infant formula in France.
Nestlé maintains that it is testing blockchain technology to create better transparency and visibility of the whole value chain of the products.
In July 2019, the company partnered with OpenSC in piloting open blockchain technology to monitor and openly communicate data related to the sustainability of milk and palm oil.
