Join Laurent Freixe, CEO of Nestlé, as he discusses the company’s journey toward net-zero emissions, sustainable growth and tackling global challenges.

In 2020, the European Innovation Council announced that Nestlé was going green to ensure a healthier future. What has been implemented to help achieve this?

To start with, 2020 was the year we laid out our plan for reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. As of the end of 2023, we had reduced our emissions by slightly more than 13.5%, and we made further progress in 2024 which we will announce soon. A big part of our plan is focusing on the emissions in our own operations as well as those in our supply chains. We have increased our energy efficiency and transitioned to renewable electricity in many of our manufacturing sites. 

Regenerative agriculture is key. It helps to restore nature, enhances farm resilience, and as a result, helps secure the supply of our raw materials. Our goal is to source 20% of our key ingredients from farmers adopting regenerative agricultural practices by 2025 and 50% by 2030. In addition, because restoring and maintaining forests helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions footprint, we are working to achieve assessed deforestation-free supply chains for our key ingredients.

Nestlé’s approach to sustainability goes beyond ‘going green’. It has been our approach for many years. We want to provide tasty, balanced diets to people all over the world, and as part of that to make good nutrition more affordable and accessible. As we play our part to tackle climate change we aim for a just transition for the communities we serve, promoting and advancing human rights. Our aim is to create value for all of our stakeholders in the way we do business. We call this Creating Shared Value.

What links does the company have (or would like to have) with UN agencies associated with the food industry?

Nestlé works with the UN in many different capacities to help address global challenges, such as climate change, social inequality and public health crises. Tackling such challenges requires collaborative efforts among many different stakeholders, which is why we also work with other businesses, governments and non-profit organizations.

As part of Nestlé’s Global Youth Initiative, we have partnered with UNESCO on the “Because Youth Matter” program. The program aims to provide young people with the resources and skills they need to develop and implement innovative solutions that make a positive social impact in their communities.

We co-chair the Business Coalition for a UN Global Plastics Treaty. This instrument aims to create a legally binding global agreement to end plastic pollution by promoting sustainable alternatives and waste management practices.

Nestlé, Switzerland © Shutterstock

How does the company’s performance align with the annual crossmatching of the SDGs?

Our approach to sustainability is focused on the areas where we can make the most meaningful impact – areas like eradicating hunger, providing access to clean water, promoting responsible consumption and acting on climate change. We set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track progress on our efforts, and the performance against these KPIs is mapped against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

By supporting farmers in the transition to regenerative agriculture, we are helping improve soil health, reduce carbon emissions and support food security. In addition to addressing climate action, these efforts also contribute to UN SDGs on Zero Hunger (SDG2) as well as on Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG12) and more. 

In 2024 an FAO report announced that there are 733 million hungry people in the world. As Nestlé is a food producer with global distribution, how do you think this statistic can be reduced?

One way we can address the challenge is by helping close nutrient gaps through fortification of everyday products with essential micronutrients like iron, iodine, zinc and vitamin A. In 2023, we provided more than 127 billion servings of affordable micronutrient fortified foods and beverages globally.

Our commitment to innovation continues with the development of plant-based protein options to help people who are struggling to meet nutritional needs. In Nigeria, for example, we launched Nido Milk and Soya, a fortified dairy and soy blend that offers essential nutrients like protein, fiber, iron and calcium.

Transforming agriculture to be more productive, more resilient and more sustainable is also key to reducing hunger and improving livelihoods for the long term. We work closely with farmers to encourage the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices to enable better productivity and better livelihoods.

Being new in this global role, what objectives have you set for the short term?

My aim is to ensure Nestlé delivers sustainable, profitable growth and gain market share, while transforming Nestlé for long-term success. We are going to build on our strengths – our global reach, our local capabilities, our diverse portfolio of iconic brands and innovative products – to win in the marketplace. We will invest further in our brands and growth platforms to unlock potential. We are going to improve the way we operate, becoming more efficient, more responsive and more agile. It is only by driving business growth that we will be able to make a positive impact on people and the planet. This is how we will deliver value to all of our stakeholders. 


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