Nestlé has announced that 77 per cent of its agricultural commodities are verified as deforestation-free. The food giant said this was a “key milestone in the company’s efforts to achieve its zero-deforestation commitment”.

 

In 2010, Nestlé made a no deforestation commitment to ensure that none of its products globally would be associated with deforestation by 2020. Over the years, the company has worked with partners like Airbus and Earthworm Foundation, and its suppliers to identify areas at risk of deforestation. The company said it is using a combination of tools, including certification, supply chain mapping, on-the-ground verification and satellite imagery from the Starling system to achieve that goal.

 

Monitoring palm oil, pulp & paper, and soya supply chains

 

The satellite-based Starling – a global verification system evidencing that no deforestation is taking place throughout the supply chain – is the result of a fruitful collaboration between Airbus, Earthworm Foundation and Nestlé. Nestlé is now using the system to monitor its entire palm oil supply chain. Pilots in pulp and paper are also now underway and the company plans to extend it to soya later in 2019. 

 

Starling’s cutting-edge technology helps Nestlé understand better where deforestation occurs, what drives it and who is involved. The company uses this information to verify compliance, challenge its suppliers and prioritise transformative actions.

 

“Innovation and technology like Starling is accelerating our journey towards zero deforestation,” asserted Magdi Batato, Executive Vice President, Head of Operations at Nestlé SA. “This is transforming the way we manage deforestation risks in our palm oil supply chain – we are using this tool to hold our suppliers and ourselves accountable. We are satisfied with our progress, but there is much more to do. The last miles to go are always the hardest.”