GettingEcological spoke to Nick Stevens – Nespresso’s B2B Commercial Director for the UK and ROI – about Nespresso’s approach to sustainability and his predictions for the future.
Tell us about yourself and what you do.
I started at Nespresso Professional 7 years ago, having previously worked in the hotel industry as a director in sales and marketing. In my role as B2B commercial director for the UK and ROI, I am responsible for building relationships with businesses across the HORECA and office sectors, as well as developing and implementing commercial strategy and growth.
In a nutshell, what is Nespresso’s approach to sustainability?
Nespresso has always believed that coffee can be a force for good. From our AAA Sustainable Quality Programme to our range of complimentary recycling options, securing the future of high-quality coffee while improving livelihoods and protecting the environment has been central to our work for over 20 years.
We were certified as a B Corp in 2022, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to high standards of sustainability and transparency. Together with industry peers and partners – both on the coffee farms and here in the UK and ROI – we are working to combat climate change by reducing emissions, regenerating nature, and doing everything we can to waste nothing.
Businesses face a host of competing priorities as they work to grow – or even just to survive – in the current environment. How important are Nespresso’s sustainability credentials to your B2B customers?
Sustainability remains a key priority for Nespresso Professional, as well as our B2B customers. As we see the endangerment of 60% of wild coffee species, and that 50% of the land used to grow coffee today could be unviable by 2050, we also see an increase in accountability for coffee suppliers. Customers want to know that their coffee comes from a company that values sustainability and understands that coffee can be a force for good.
People are realising that operating sustainably isn’t a “nice to have”; it is an absolute necessity. It is the morally right thing to do, but it is also business imperative because of consumer and employee expectations.
Sustainability is one of my favourite topics to discuss with our partners because we really do walk the walk in this space, and I love being able to answer questions with pride about the work we do at Nespresso.
We hear a lot about people wanting to work for purpose-led organisations, particularly the younger generations. Have employee expectations changed in recent years?
We have certainly seen a shift in employee expectations in recent years, particularly as younger generations enter the workforce. According to the 13th edition of Deloitte’s Gen Z and Millennial Survey, environmental sustainability remains a top concern, with both generations actively taking measures to limit their environmental impact, and two in 10 Gen Zs and millennials having already changed jobs or industries to better align their work with their environmental values.
Finally, what sustainability trends do you think we’ll see coming down the track?
In recent years, we have seen increasing accountability when it comes to value chains – with new rules and regulation from the EU coming into force that formalises this responsibility for business.
We will see businesses place greater importance on the partners and suppliers they work with. It is vital to know that you can trust the credentials of your suppliers and to be aligned with their values and commitments.
