Discover how NESCAFÉ® sources coffee

Q: What is responsibly sourced?

For NESCAFÉ®, responsible sourcing means coffee lots are traceable to the first aggregation entity forming the farmer units where the coffee was grown, and are independently certified or verified as produced in accordance with environmental and social sustainability standards validated as equivalent to our Nestlé Responsible Sourcing Core Requirements. Environmental standards address matters such as soil health and fertility, water resource management, biodiversity conservation, and the responsible use of agrochemicals. Social standards address matters such as human rights and child protection, workers' rights and fair labour conditions, women and youth empowerment, and support for farmer livelihoods. Our Reporting Scope and Methodology for ESG Key Performance Indicators document provides details and can be found here. Learn more: NESCAFÉ® Plan 2030 Progress Report 2025

What does «responsibly sourced» mean in our value chain?

It means that our coffee is traceable to the group of farms where it was grown, and that defined social and environmental standards are incorporated into the processes of coffee farmers and coffee suppliers, and that the adherence to these standards are independently certified or verified. These standards are equivalent to our Nestlé Responsible Sourcing Core Requirements.

Environmental standards address matters such as soil health and fertility, water resource management, biodiversity conservation, and the responsible use of agrochemicals. Social standards address matters such as human rights and child protection, workers' rights and fair labour conditions, women and youth empowerment, and support for farmer livelihoods. Our Reporting Scope and Methodology for ESG Key Performance Indicators document provides details and can be found here. Learn more

Overview of a coffee farm in the early morning

Working together

Our coffee is traceable to the group of farms where it was grown and verified in accordance to sustainability and social standards from independent certifier programmes.

At NESCAFÉ^®, we work with various external programmes who are independent third-party organizations, such as 4C, Rainforest Alliance, which have established their own publicly available sustainability standards.

The sustainability standards of the external programmes we work with meet our Nestlé Responsible Sourcing Core Requirements. These encompass various aspects of coffee farming, including social and environmental practices, like farmer's working conditions and optimizing soil fertilizers, among others. optimizing soil fertilizers, among others.

Farmer showing a coffee bean with his hand

Taking actions with purpose

We are taking action to continue supporting coffee farmers in their communities wherever they are, so that they can improve their lands and livelihoods. We do this through measurable improvements in farmer income and soil health under the NESCAFÉ^® Plan 2030 Progress Report 2025. Below are some examples of initiatives that have led to these improvements:

• Supporting coffee farm renovation for better plant resilience and quality, by distributing over 335 million coffee plantlets since 2010.
• More than 1,600+ Field staff, including agronomists, across countries.
• Training over 100,000 coffee farmers on improved farming practices like: measuring and improving soil health, managing organic matter, and limiting pesticide use.

Want to know more?

See our NESCAFÉ® Plan Progress Report of 2023

FAQ

What is regenerative agriculture?

In line with the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, NESCAFÉ^® defines “regenerative agriculture” as an approach to farming which aims, through practice adoption, to conserve and restore natural resources, primarily soil, as well as water and biodiversity, while capturing carbon in soils and plant biomass, and to support farmers’ livelihoods. Key practices promoted under the NESCAFÉ^® Plan include efficient water use and optimised use of inputs.

Learn more: NESCAFÉ^® Plan 2030 Progress Report 2025

What is responsibly sourced?

For NESCAFÉ^®, responsible sourcing means coffee lots are traceable to the first aggregation entity forming the farmer units where the coffee was grown, and are independently certified or verified as produced in accordance with environmental and social sustainability standards validated as equivalent to our Nestlé Responsible Sourcing Core Requirements. Environmental standards address matters such as soil health and fertility, water resource management, biodiversity conservation, and the responsible use of agrochemicals. Social standards address matters such as human rights and child protection, workers' rights and fair labour conditions, women and youth empowerment, and support for farmer livelihoods. Our Reporting Scope and Methodology for ESG Key Performance Indicators document provides details and can be found here. Learn more: NESCAFÉ^® Plan 2030 Progress Report 2025