Nespresso to launch first Rainforest Alliance regenerative certified coffee in 2026

SWITZERLAND – Nestlé-owned coffee company Nespresso announced it will become the first coffee brand to introduce Rainforest Alliance (RA) Regenerative certified coffee to the market. 

The company confirmed on September 24 that the certification seal will appear on select Nespresso products starting in 2026. The initial certified lots will come from a coffee farm in Costa Rica, with additional lots expected from Costa Rica and Mexico. 

This announcement follows the Rainforest Alliance’s launch of its regenerative standard for coffee on September 8. The certification framework aims to strengthen soil health, enhance biodiversity, and improve climate resilience, while also aligning with emerging corporate sustainability regulations and environmental labeling standards. 

Under the RA Regenerative program, existing certificate holders can integrate 17 regenerative requirements into their current Sustainable Agriculture Standard certification or pursue regenerative certification as a standalone pathway, combining these requirements with 102 other baseline criteria. 

Nespresso positioned the move as an extension of its two-decade sustainability commitment through its AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program, developed in partnership with the Rainforest Alliance.  

The company said the new seal would help farmers and companies measure regenerative outcomes and build resilience to climate change, while distinguishing products in an evolving consumer and regulatory environment. 

Rainforest Alliance CEO Santiago Gowland described the new standard as combining scientific rigor with proven regenerative practices tailored to crops and regions. He emphasized its role in protecting, restoring, and regenerating critical ecosystems. 

Over the past decade, regenerative agriculture has shifted from niche specialty coffee initiatives into a key theme in corporate sustainability strategies.  

Nespresso’s head of sustainability, Jérôme Perez, said the company hopes the certification seal will encourage other brands to support a wider regenerative transition among coffee growers and raise consumer awareness of the benefits of purchasing products sourced from regenerative farms. 

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