Coffee of the future: Nestlé relies on sustainability in Schwerin!

Coffee of the future: Nestlé relies on sustainability in Schwerin!

The café lovers in Germany can be happy, because a significant initiative by Nestlé in the field of coffee cultivation aims to secure the sustainability and quality of coffee beans. As part of the Nescafé Plan, Nestlé has set up a huge network to support coffee farmers in 16 countries and at the same time to promote the quality and traceability of the coffee to ensure better cultivation methods.

The work in Schwerin plays a central role here. It only processes coffee beans that were procured responsibly and come from certified farmer groups. This year the work celebrates its tenth anniversary, which underlines the success of its sustainable efforts. From here the popular coffee capsules of the Nescafé Dolce Gusto brand come onto the market.

sustainable growing methods and climate change

Coffee farmers worldwide are facing challenges from climate change. According to current estimates, the area for coffee could be reduced by half by 2050. Nestlé has set itself the task of securing the livelihood of 125 million people who are dependent on coffee. The company has been based on sustainable cultivation for over ten years to make the coffee industry more resistant.

Stefan Canz, agricultural expert at Nestlé, emphasizes that the Nescafé Plan is essential support for the coffee farmers. The program provides learning offers and financial aid to make the companies more climate -resistant. This ranges from the introduction of more sustainable cultivation methods to the provision of resources to increase productivity.

Last year 148,000 farmers were trained in better agricultural practices. This includes planting shadow trees that offer protection both the coffee plants and the soil. In addition, the use of organic fertilizer and the circumcision process of the coffee trees is encouraged.

More and more farmers implement regenerative methods in their companies, which has a positive effect on productivity. In countries like Vietnam and Thailand, an increase in coffee plant production could be achieved by up to 25 percent.

research and development for the future

Nestlé invests intensively in research and development of new, resistant coffee plants. The company operates several research farms and the Institute of Agricultural Sciences to find innovative approaches that can meet the challenges of climate change. Annually, agronomists distribute more than 20 million improved coffee plants to farmers in the coffee growing regions as part of the Nescafé Plan.

The ambitious goals of Nestlé include 100 percent of the coffee from responsible origin by 2025. Many German supermarkets already offer Nescafé products that come exclusively from such sources.

In order to keep the progress and the results of the Nescafé Plan transparent, Nestlé publishes a progress report annually. This shows the success and challenges within the program and explains how coffee cultivation can be designed sustainably.

In the factory in Schwerin, where the Nescafé coffee capsules are produced, Nestlé has significantly expanded the capacities in the past ten years. In production, great importance is placed on the use of sustainable electricity. Plant manager Thomas Kolodzinsky emphasizes the importance of these initiatives for environmental protection. In addition, the reduction in the plastic proportion in the coffee capsules is continuously worked on, which also represents a positive contribution to the environmental balance sheet.

The plant currently employs 356 people, including trainees who are comprehensively trained in a modern production environment. This not only ensures the future of German coffee cultivation, but also offers perspectives for the upcoming generation.