Nestlé Nespresso, the operating unit of the Nestlé Group, has pledged to use the responsibly sourced aluminum from the metals and mining firm Rio Tinto to produce its coffee capsules.
Image: Nespresso Production Centre in Avenches, Switzerland. Photo: courtesy of Nestlé Nespresso SA.
Both companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together with Nespresso’s coffee capsule manufacturing firms to ensure their coffee costumers that it is packed using responsibly produced aluminum.
Rio Tinto believes that the use of Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certified aluminum is an important milestone towards reducing the impact on the environment.
ASI is a global non-profit organization to introduce certification program for responsibly produced and sourced aluminum. It lays out standards to endorse the protection of biodiversity, respect for human rights of locals, water management and low-carbon footprint during aluminum production.
Rio Tinto claims that it is the only company to sell aluminum that has been produced with the highest environmental, social and governance standards.
Rio Tinto vice president sales and marketing and ASI Board member Tolga Egrilmezer said: “This partnership with Nespresso is a significant milestone in the journey towards seeing ASI standards adopted throughout the aluminum industry supply chain.”
The Chain of Custody Standard of ASI has a traceability mechanism that assures the end-users like Nespresso of the aluminum they use has been manufactured by ASI-certified producers at each stage of the process. The standard is touted to be the first of its kind for any industrial metal.
Nespresso and Rio Tinto both expect other manufacturers and costumers to accept the ASI Certified aluminum to meet the consumer requirement for more continuous supply chains.
Nespresso chief executive officer Jean-Marc Duvoisin said: “Nespresso is proud to have been a driving force in creating and implementing the ASI.
“Together we have made responsibly-sourced aluminum 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.”
Both companies aim to source 100% sustainable aluminum by 2020 for packaging coffee capsules of Nespresso with responsibly produced aluminum.