Antonia Wanner, group head of ESG strategy and deployment at Nestlé, has said that the food group’s progress on achieving emissions reduction across its operations is “proof of our unwavering commitment to our net-zero roadmap.”
Wanner was commenting as Nestlé announced that it reduced its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 13.5% in 2023, compared to its baseline year, 2018.
The company is confident it will achieve a 20% absolute reduction in GHG emissions by 2025 compared to the baseline year. This achievement is attributed to various programs and initiatives implemented across all three scopes of activities (Scope 1, 2, and 3).
“We are working closely with our partners to help make food production more sustainable, while aiming at enhancing livelihoods across our value chain at the same time,” Wanner added. “A just transition is crucial to accelerate our efforts.”
Dairy emissions
Nestlé highlighted that over two-thirds of the company’s greenhouse gas emissions originate from ingredient sourcing, with dairy being the largest contributor.
To address this, Nestlé is actively collaborating with suppliers and farmers to facilitate their transition to regenerative agriculture practices. The company said that it is offering various forms of assistance, including technical expertise and financial support, to aid farmers in this transition process.
In 2023, a significant portion of the emissions reductions were attributed to dairy and livestock projects, such as those implemented under the Ninho brand in Brazil.
Additionally, Nestlé reported that 91.9% of the electricity consumed at its global manufacturing sites was sourced from renewable sources last year.
Future strategy
Moving forward, Nestlé added that it is focused on continuing to reduce emissions through a combination of strategies, including agroforestry, deforestation prevention, and adopting new farming practices.
Additionally, the company aims to drive innovation in both products and agricultural technology through its own research and development efforts as well as external partnerships.
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