Profile:
Mary Child
Founded in 1986, Nespresso is the iconic pioneer of high-quality portioned coffee. In the UK & Ireland, the brand operates 45 boutiques, alongside its e-commerce platform, delivering barista-level coffee experiences to both at-home and professional customers. From sourcing through to recycling, sustainability is at the core of Nespresso’s business – cemented further by its certification as a B Corp™.
We spoke to Mary Child, Sustainability Manager at Nespresso UK&I. Mary has been with the company since 2017 and has always had a love for nature. She was inspired by a module from her biology degree on ‘sustainable agriculture’ to find a career in sustainability. At Nespresso, her role combines that passion with her love of coffee, focusing on creating long-term positive change within the industry.
What are you working on at the moment?
The Nespresso | Hived Partnership
We recently announced a new partnership with HIVED, a fully electric delivery service, which has the potential to save over 10,000kg of CO2 emissions monthly across London – all whilst delivering an enhanced customer experience with real-time tracking, live updates, and access to a live chat. I am also working with sustainability managers across EMEA on our B Corp re-certification, which is due in 2025, as well as improving our recycling portal to make it as easy as possible for customers to arrange their pod recycling collection.
What does a day look like for you at Nespresso?
A day in my role is always dynamic and varied, which is one of the things I love most about working at Nespresso. Sustainability is such a cross-functional area, so I am lucky enough to interact with colleagues from all parts of the business. For example, I might be collaborating with our supply chain or retail teams on carbon reduction initiatives for our boutiques and logistics or working with our communications team to share our sustainability journey and promote our recycling services to customers.
Since our B Corp certification, my involvement has expanded to include more focus on social sustainability. This has allowed me to take part in community initiatives and work with our HR team on topics like employee wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion. So, no two days are ever the same.
We have a flexible approach to work at Nespresso, and I also enjoy heading into the office when I can to collaborate face-to-face. It’s always energising to be around the team and see how all our efforts come together across the business.
What’s something your particularly proud of?
Podback – the pod recycling service
Nespresso’s first capsule recycling programme began over 30 years ago, and it’s been evolving ever since. We know that people are more likely to recycle when it is easily accessible and as simple as possible so I’m proud of our investments to expand the options available to consumers in the UK and Ireland.
Consumers can drop capsules at Nespresso boutiques or at one of 14,000 Royal Mail locations across the country, select doorstep collection, or recycle through Podback – a not-for-profit coffee pod recycling service that Nespresso co-founded with industry peers and partners in 2021.
Can you tell us more about Nespresso’s sustainability journey to date?
Last year marked the twentieth anniversary of our Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality Program, which has grown from 300 farmers in Costa Rica in 2003 to over 157,000 farmers in 18 countries today. Established in partnership with the Rainforest Alliance, the AAA Program is designed to improve the yield and quality of coffee harvests, ensure sustainable farming practices and improve the livelihoods of farmers and their communities.
In 2022, Nespresso achieved B Corp certification. The process is incredibly rigorous, demanding the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance purpose and profit. This was a major milestone and a source of global pride, but we are constantly improving and always assessing where and how we can do better. The journey continues!
Why did Nespresso decide to join BCA?
We believe in harnessing the power of business as a force for good and there are always benefits to tackling industry challenges together and harnessing our ability to drive change. We have been part of the BCA since before I joined Nespresso.
What are your goals for the year ahead?
Whilst my background is in environmental sustainability, I’m a firm believer that sustainability is about support for both planet and people.
Earlier this year, we announced a partnership with social enterprise Change Please, supporting their mission to end homelessness. We have donated £1 million and created a selection of coffee for customers who want to get involved in supporting this important cause
Across the business, we can’t wait to see the positive impact this partnership has and many people at Nespresso have already committed their time to volunteering for Change Please. For me, this truly embodies the work Nespresso does to harness the power of coffee as a force for good.
Have you had any adventures overseas through your work?
I have visited recycling plants in Dublin and spoken at climate change conferences in Valencia.
I would love to visit one of the coffee farms one day to see Nespresso’s work with coffee farming communities in action. Amongst having amazing skills in coffee farming, many communities really are at the front line of climate change and empowering them to protect their land against weather shocks while simultaneously combatting the causes of climate change is critical if we want to secure the future of high-quality coffee.
Nespresso is doing this through regenerative agriculture, an approach that seeks not just to protect and maintain the landscape but to revitalise it and boost biodiversity. I would jump at the chance to see that for myself.
What do you love most about the coffee industry, and what advice would you give somebody who wants to forge a career in sustainability?
“stay curious, adaptable and always look for opportunities to learn and collaborate”
What I love most about the coffee industry is that it’s rooted in history and culture, but it is also evolving and innovating, especially in areas such as sustainability, ethical sourcing and quality. Coffee is part so many people’s lives globally, from farmers to consumers. Being part of an industry that has the scale to make a positive social and environmental impact is incredibly rewarding.
My advice for anyone looking to enter the field of sustainability within the coffee industry would be to stay curious, adaptable and always look for opportunities to learn and collaborate with others. Sustainability touches every part of the business so being able to work cross functionally is essential.
No single company can tackle sustainability challenges alone, and we rely on strong partnerships with experts like the Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade to drive meaningful impact, both now and for the future of coffee.
Our thanks to the team at Nespresso.
