Nespresso to produce “world’s first” responsibly-sourced aluminum coffee capsules

20 Nov 2018 --- Nespresso claims that it will be the first company to use responsibly-sourced aluminum, supplied by Rio Tinto, to produce its coffee capsules. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together, allowing Nespresso’s capsule manufacturers to fulfill a commitment of sourcing 100 percent sustainable aluminum by 2020.

The use of Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Certified Aluminum is an important milestone towards reducing the impact that the world’s second most used base metal has on the planet, says Nespresso.

The ASI sets out standards to promote the protection of biodiversity, respect for indigenous people’s rights, water management and low-carbon emissions during the production of aluminum.

The ASI’s Chain of Custody Standard creates a traceability mechanism so that end-users like Nespresso can be sure that the aluminum they buy has been manufactured by ASI-Certified producers at each stage of the process. The standard is the first of its kind for any industrial metal.

Rio Tinto Aluminum Chief Executive Alf Barrios says: “This as an important step towards the use of responsibly sourced aluminum across manufacturing industries, which Rio Tinto is the first to supply. We expect the demand from consumers for sustainable products to continue growing and Nespresso drinkers can have confidence the aluminum we supply for their capsules meets the highest international standards.”

Nespresso CEO Jean-Marc Duvoisin comments: “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.”

ASI CEO Fiona Solomon adds: “Aluminum is a key part of our daily lives: from cars and planes to cell phones, buildings and food packaging. Until now, there has never been a comprehensive global standard for its responsible sourcing and production. Now companies in the aluminum value chain who wish to demonstrate responsible practices can take the ASI standards forward to their customers, who can, in turn, be confident that this represents the highest environmental, social and governance standards.”

The Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI) is a global, multi-stakeholder, non-profit standards-setting and certification organization. It works toward responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminum following an entire value chain approach. To this end, ASI launched its Performance Standard and Chain of Custody Standard in December 2017.

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