Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainability

Person planting tree


Business benefit and positive societal impact must be mutually reinforcing. This is the core of our Creating Shared Value approach to business. Our company can only be successful in the long term if we create value for all stakeholders.


Key performance indicators

24.5 %
96.9 %
20.7 %
28 %
48.2 %
135.4 billion

Our Non-Financial Statement 2025 (pdf, 18Mb) was independently assured by Ernst & Young Ltd (EY). They have provided limited assurance on select environmental, social and governance, KPIs , which can be found in Independent assurance (pdf, 18Mb)

Our Reporting Scope and Methodology for ESG KPIs (pdf, 18Mb) document provides details and definitions.

Nestlé’s Non-Financial Statement 2025 has been produced with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Standard for the Processed Foods sector which can be found here: GRI and SASB Index (pdf, 18Mb)

1 Net reductions (%) of GHG emissions versus 2018 baseline includes removals from inside Nestlé’s value chains and sourcing landscapes (pending the publication of the SBTi guidance on neutralization). 

2 This performance number differs from the one available in our Non-Financial Statement 2025 due to a change in the methodology during the first half of 2026. Now we consider ingredients volumes converted back to their original fresh state, instead of their processed form.

3 This performance number differs from the one available in our Non-Financial Statement 2025 due to a change in the methodology during the first half of 2026. Now we consider ingredients volumes converted back to their original fresh state, instead of their processed form. There has been a change in the key ingredients scope from 2026 onwards. The new scope is: cereals and grains; cocoa; coconut; dairy (derivatives and fresh milk); green coffee; hazelnuts; meat, poultry and eggs; soy;spices; sugar; vegetables; and vegetable fat oils (including palm oil)
 
 

Key terms explained

Deforestation-free
Deforestation-free means that commodities in scope were assessed as produced on land that has not been subject to deforestation or conversion after a specific cut-off date that varies by commodity, but no later than December 31, 2020. Commodities accounted as deforestation-free include in part commodities subject to the requirements of the EU Deforestation Regulation. However, the scope of the disclosed metric goes beyond these jurisdiction-specific mandatory requirements as part of Nestlé's global approach on deforestation. Read more about deforestation. 

Net zero
In 2019, we announced our ambition to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2050 at the latest. In 2026, we updated our timebound plan, the Nestlé Roots of Net Zero (pdf, 14Mb), which underpins our Group's climate and nature strategy and acts as our transition plan aligned with a 1.5°C pathway as validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). We will balance any remaining emissions through high-quality nature-based solutions, such as agroforestry, silvopasture and the restoration of forests and peatland. Read more about net zero.

Regenerative food system
A regenerative food system is one that goes beyond reducing harm to actively restoring ecological systems, while at the same time strengthening the social, economic and human rights foundations that food production depends on - so that food systems can sustain nature, people and livelihoods over the long term. 

Virgin plastic
Plastic that has not been previously used or subjected to processing other than for its original production. It includes fossil and bio-based plastics.  
The Roots of Net Zero cover
farmer