Company Spotlight: Nespresso

Photo via National Geographic courtesy of Nespresso

While browsing different articles on National Geographic, one in particular caught my eye. I've given a brief summary of the article, "How a quest for quality led to a sustainable system", below, but you can find the full article here. Written by Jack Neighbor, the article goes on to talk about the history of Nespresso from 1986 until present time. 

Eric Favre designed an espresso machine that would focus on both quality and convenience. In doing so, he was aware that while people continue to love coffee, Nespresso, as a company, had an obligation to the environment. It became clear to him that the biggest issue with a cup of coffee comes from consumption, what we put into it and the wastage from making it. 

When creating the Nespresso capsule, Favre knew that providing the exact measurement of necessary coffee meant there would be no wasted coffee grounds. As far as material choice went, making the choice to use aluminum was an easy one as it locks in the scent of the coffee grounds and is infinitely recyclable. 

As a whole, the company continues to strive for more sustainability. In working with The Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade, Nespresso has been able to better control the quality of both the coffee and the lives of families working for Nespresso.  Currently, they are working with national governments to create and improve ways that items are recycled. Their aluminum capsules can be dropped off at a Nespresso store or collected from homes and businesses. 

You can participate in their free Nespresso Recycling Program by ordering a free recycling bag here or finding a capsule collection point here. Through their program, they "transform used capsules into the raw materials used in garden compost, new capsules, and even products like the Vitorinox Swiss Army knife." (nespresso.com)

Do you drink coffee every day? I'm a tea and occasional latte person, but after hearing all of this, I may start switching to Nespresso! What coffee is your favorite? How do you prepare your coffee? Let me know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page!

- jamie

Information for this post was taken from National Geographic and Nespresso. To learn more about National Geographic and their partner, Nespresso, visit their websites at nationalgeographic.com and nespresso.com.