Nespresso logo

Nespresso

Nespresso is a coffee brand owned by Nestlé. Known for its single-serve coffee capsules and brewing machines.

Unethical Sourcing and Child Labour

Nespresso and its mother company, Nestlé, have faced multiple reports and allegations of unethical sourcing practices concerning its coffee and cocoa beans. The allegations include slave labor, child labor, sexual abuse, unethical sourcing, and customer deception. Despite frequently promoting programs to ensure "ethical sourcing" and introducing certification standards for farms, these initiatives often fall short. Reports indicate that as long as farmers are not fairly compensated, certification programs will remain ineffective, and issues like labor abuse and slavery will persist. In some cases, Nestlé has failed to adequately address concerns raised by workers and nonprofits working in the field.

There is a huge body of evidence showing that the mechanisms certifiers rely on to address issues like forced labor, child labor, and gender-based violence are deeply flawed and not working effectively.

Said Genevieve LeBaron, director of the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University, Canada.

2023: Nestlé' Child and Slave Labor

An exposé by Repórter Brasil titled "Behind Starbucks Coffee" investigated labor practices in the coffee supply chain for both Starbucks and Nestlé. The investigation uncovered that farms certified by Starbucks' own ethical sourcing program, C.A.F.E. Practices, have been violating labor laws. Instances of child labor and conditions akin to modern slavery were discovered on these certified properties. Some suppliers were found to be repeat offenders, continually failing to meet basic labor standards despite previous fines and inspections. The report highlights that these issues are not isolated to Starbucks; suppliers for other major corporations like Nestlé and McDonald's have also been implicated in similar violations.

Another report by Repórter Brasil revealed the widespread issue of slave labor across multiple industries in Brazil and beyond. Major companies, including Aurora, Garibaldi, and Salton wineries, fashion brands like Zara and Animale, construction giants such as MRV and OAS, and coffee brands like Nespresso and Starbucks, have been accused of direct or indirect involvement in these practices. When confronted, most companies claimed ignorance of the situations and often blamed third-party service providers.

2021: Coffee Supply Chain Labor Exploitation

In 2021, Labor inspectors found the farm that a farm owned by the family of the president of Cooxupé—the world’s largest coffee cooperative, which supplies brands like Nespresso and Starbucks—illegally deducted nearly one-third of workers' wages for equipment and fuel as well. The Farm, located in Brazil, was found to be violating workers' rights. Despite Cooxupé reporting record profits of R$5 billion in 2020, 19 migrant workers from one of Brazil’s poorest regions saw R$500 deducted from their bi-weekly pay.

2020: Nespresso Implicated in Child Labor & Workers Displacement

An investigation by Channel 4's Dispatches has revealed evidence of child labor within the supply chains of Nespresso and Starbucks. Children as young as 8, with many between the ages of 11 and 12, were discovered working on coffee farms in Guatemala that supply both companies. These children were found working up to 40 hours per week in harsh conditions, facing dangers such as insect bites and snake encounters.

Child laborers typically earn less than £5 per day, with some making as little as 31p per hour. The investigation uncovered child labor on all 12 farms visited (7 supplying Nespresso and 5 supplying Starbucks). A human rights lawyer commented that the findings suggest both companies may be violating international labor regulations.

2019: Slave Labor Exposed on Nespresso-Certified Farm

A Nespresso and Starbucks-certified farm in Brazil was discovered to have used slave labor, subjecting workers to 17-hour shifts and housing them in substandard, unhygienic conditions. As a result, the farm was added to the Brazilian government's biannual "Dirty List" of employers engaged in slavery-like labor practices.

2017: Labor Abuses on Nestlé Certified Coffee Farms

Repórter Brasil uncovered cases of undocumented labor, irregular use of pesticides, and complaints of payments below half the minimum wage on coffee farms certified as following good practices. These farms were part of sustainability programs run by companies like Nestlé and Starbucks. According to the report, in July 2015, the Brazilian Ministry of Labor found 13 seasonal workers harvesting coffee without proper documentation at a farm certified by Rainforest Alliance and participating in Nestlé's and Starbucks' sustainability programs.

Sources: