Jean-Christophe Jaunin took over as CEO of Nespresso North America in 2026, coming from a role as global chief customer and technology officer. In an interview at the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business forum, he discussed how Nespresso integrates sustainability into its business model. Jaunin emphasized that sustainability is integral to maintaining the coffee’s quality and future-proofing the business against environmental changes. Over the past two decades, the company shifted from conventional farming, which weakened soil and flavor, to methods that safeguard biodiversity and enrich the ecosystem, enhancing coffee quality. Nespresso supports over 150,000 farming families through its Sustainable Quality Program, offering training, direct partnerships, and income diversification initiatives like beekeeping, which not only benefits the environment but also fortifies farmers’ economic resilience. The company consciously chose aluminum capsules for their ability to preserve coffee freshness and be recycled endlessly, committing to costly yet necessary recycling efforts including infrastructure investments in multiple states to ensure capsules can be fully recycled. This sustainability focus is tightly woven into the brand promise and long-term supply strategy.
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