Nespresso represents more than just George Clooney and coffee capsules. This was illustrated in the practice lecture by Marianne Neumüller-Klapper, Operations & Sustainability Director at Nespresso. She provided our students with detailed insights into the practice of sustainability management, outlined the diverse challenges of the coffee industry, and demonstrated how a globally operating company addresses these issues.

Nespresso employs over 600 agronomists worldwide, advising more than 150,000 farmers on regenerative agriculture, promoting sustainable practices, and strengthening local communities. With its 'Reviving Origins' product line, Nespresso contributes to re-establishing former coffee farms in crisis regions such as the Congo or Uganda. In areas where coffee cultivation had been abandoned due to civil wars and social conflicts, Nespresso supports with financial resources and expertise to reactivate old coffee plantations. This creates new and secure jobs, ensures livelihoods, and guarantees fair working conditions.

In collaboration with the software company OpenSC, Nespresso has for the first time utilized blockchain technology to store and verify information about the processing steps in the supply chain. This involves a decentralized recording of information which, once captured, cannot be deleted. Thus, all stakeholders in the supply chain can access shared information in real time, reducing delays, errors, and fraud to a minimum. Additionally, customers are made aware of responsible supply chains and can make informed purchasing decisions.

Nespresso reduces its climate footprint through the substantially lower consumption of coffee per drink compared to conventional coffee machines, which, despite the energy and resource consumption of coffee capsules, results in a positive environmental balance. The current recycling rate of about 40% is to be supported by industry-wide and manufacturer-independent collection and return systems.

Through the inspiring industry lecture by Marianne Neumüller-Klapper, students acquired specialized knowledge and valuable insights into the potential of sustainable business practices.