Foodservice coffee sustainability matters more than ever, and foodservice operators (restaurant owners, café managers, and foodservice professionals) don’t have to tackle it alone. From farming practices to packaging decisions, manufacturers play a critical role in helping reduce environmental impact.
And these commitments help operators meet growing consumer expectations. More than half of diners (57%) actively seek or prefer restaurants that implement sustainable practices.1 65% will even pay more for sustainable ingredients.2
That’s why investing in the right coffee products and partners is so important. When manufacturers take the lead on initiatives like regenerative agriculture, waste reduction, and responsible sourcing, operators can advance their sustainability goals with confidence and ease.
Here’s how leading coffee and creamer brands from Nestlé Professional Solutions are helping make meaningful, scalable sustainability possible.
Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative agriculture is the term for farming practices that conserve and even restore farmland. They can include planting cover crops, minimizing or eliminating tillage, and reducing pesticide use.
These help enhance soil health, biodiversity, and address the impact of climate change. And, of course, they keep farms viable, protecting the livelihoods and wellbeing of farmers.
Working with manufacturers who source from farmers using regenerative agriculture practices helps operators support stability and environmental health simply with their dollar spend.
NESCAFÉ® Is Investing in Regenerative Agriculture
NESCAFÉ® is investing over $1 billion globally into educating farmers and implementing regenerative agriculture practices. The NESCAFÉ® 2030 Plan commits to sourcing 50% of coffee from farmers adopting regenerative agriculture practices by 2030.3
And, they’re already ahead of schedule. NESCAFÉ® surpassed their 2025 milestone by sourcing over 32% of coffee from farmers using regenerative agriculture in 2024.4
Waste Reduction
For foodservice coffee sustainability, it’s not just how you source your ingredients: it’s also how you prepare them. From manufacturing to packaging, there are many opportunities to be efficient and sustainable.
When manufacturers prioritize waste reduction, it can simplify operations and enable easier recycling for operators.
Coffee mate® Uses Waste Reduction from Factory to Packaging
The Cleveland, Ohio Coffee mate® facility creates zero waste to landfill. That means that any waste is instead recycled, composted, or has energy recovered from the materials.
In addition, Coffee mate® pump bottles are made from recycled plastic. While this doesn’t include the pump, sleeve, or cap, the bottles themselves use existing plastic instead of sourcing virgin plastic.
Supply Chain Partnership
Sustainability requires teamwork, not just within a business but across organizations. Whether collaborating on shared goals or holding each other accountable, these partnerships make sustainability achievable — and standardized.
Strong manufacturer partnerships with independent verifying organizations can give operators peace-of-mind that standards are being upheld.
Seattle’s Best Coffee® Is Partnering on Responsible Sourcing
Seattle’s Best Coffee is produced in accordance with the Nestlé® Responsible Sourcing Standard, which aligns with the Global Coffee Platform. These meet evolving consumer expectations for sustainability and follow guidelines for environmental, social, and economic improvement.5
Compliance is verified by independent organizations, such as 4C Services and the Rainforest Alliance.6 These deploy accredited local auditors to assess factors including social, environmental, economic, and health and safety conditions at farms.
Invest in Foodservice Coffee Sustainability
Investing in foodservice coffee sustainability isn’t just a values-driven decision: it’s a smart, future-focused one. Meaningful progress happens when operators choose products designed with sustainability in mind as part of their overall sustainability strategy. That means partnering with brands that actively invest in responsible sourcing, waste reduction, and long-term environmental impact.
The right partners help turn ambitious goals into practical action. And that makes it easier to meet consumer expectations, protect natural resources, and build resilient businesses. Explore Nestlé Professional Solutions coffee and creamer products to see how they’re good for your business, customers, and planet.
- https://content.nestleprofessional.us/story/step-up-your-restaurants-sustainability-efforts/page/1 ↩︎
- See note 1 above. ↩︎
- https://www.nestle.com/sites/default/files/2025-06/nescafe-plan-2030-progress-report-2024.pdf ↩︎
- See note 3 above. ↩︎
- https://www.nestle.com/sites/default/files/asset-library/documents/library/documents/suppliers/nestle-responsible-sourcing-standard-english.pdf ↩︎
- https://www.nescafe.com/au/sustainability/our-world/rainforest-alliance ↩︎
This content was provided by Nestlé Professional Solutions.
