“To Achieve Impact at Scale, We Must Join Forces”: Nestlé Walks the Talk in Borneo

Navigating Nestle’s Journey to Net Zero 

Nestlé has pledged to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, aligning its ambitions with the Paris Agreement and a 1.5°C global pathway. The world’s largest food and beverage company already achieved 20.35% Net GHG reduction in 2024, one year ahead of its interim milestone of 20% reduction by 2025.

Nearly 95% of Nestlé’s carbon footprint is generated outside its factory walls, within the agricultural supply chains and land-use systems that produce its raw ingredients, like palm oil. The company’s roadmap therefore prioritises nature-based solutions at farm level, with a view to making farming communities more resilient to adverse climate impacts, while also delivering reductions, removals and neutralisation of GHG.

“Working directly with farmers and suppliers,” explains Lívia, “Nestlé is promoting soil-health restoration, reduced tillage, agroforestry systems, precision nutrient management and protection of high-carbon landscapes such as peatlands and forests.” These practices not only draw carbon back into the ground but also build climate resilience for farming communities, by promoting a just transition toward regenerative food systems. 

Nestlé’s Net Zero Roadmap: Key Metrics & Milestones

• Emissions: Reduce absolute GHG emissions 20% by 2025 and 50% by 2030 from a 2018 baseline; net-zero by 2050
• Operations (energy): 100% of sourced renewable electricity across sites by 2025 
• Deforestation Free: aim to have 100% key commodities volume assessed as deforestation free by 2025 
• Regenerative agriculture: 20% of key ingredients sourced from farmers implementing regenerative agriculture practices by 2025; 50% by 2030
• Responsible Sourcing : 100% key commodities volumes responsibly sourced by 2030

“Together, We’re Redrawing the Roadmap”

Membership of the Rimba Collective enables Nestlé to make progress on their journey to net zero, with a bundling of units and ecosystem service outcomes that are robust, reliable and built for long-term impact. “When we signed our first agreement in 2021,” says Lívia, “it was an opportunity for us to bring restoration and conservation into our net zero roadmap.” Referring to the additional climate and livelihood outcomes provided by the project, she adds that “our climate and nature strategy has actually evolved and expanded to include these aspects since we joined the Rimba Collective. Together, we’re redrawing the roadmap for the next years of our net-zero journey.”

For many buyers of palm oil and other agricultural commodities, channelling investments into sourcing landscapes is a way to build greater resilience into supply chains – securing the availability of produce, while also standardising quality and stabilising prices. But Lívia believes this only tells half the story. “Through the Rimba Collective,” she explains, “we also have the opportunity to support a resilient climate, resilient nature, resilient people. Through these projects, which are managed by the community themselves, we have the chance to make a real difference and improve people's lives.”

“Our climate and nature strategy has actually evolved and expanded since we joined the Rimba Collective” - Lívia Paraguassú, Global Climate & Sourcing Manager at Nestlé

The social impact of the project is especially important for Lívia. “I come from a place that’s famous for two things,” she says, referring to her hometown in Brazil. “Firstly, cheese – but also for people who care about people.” Over the past decade, she has travelled far and wide, on a global journey that found its destination in Paris. Through her role at Nestlé, she is now in a position to really make a difference. “It is really a privilege to be able to help people, and something that means a lot to me, on a personal level” she says.

As a founding partner of the Rimba Collective, Nestlé is able to co-design, fund and facilitate support for economic development and community-led conservation.  In her role as Global Climate & Sourcing Manager, Lívia Paraguassú plays a key role in that process.

“A Great Opportunity to Join Forces and Escalate Positive Impacts.”

Travelling into the heart of Kalimantan was an invaluable experience for Lívia, and one which gave her a fresh perspective on familiar challenges; a unique insight at ground level, which also revealed pathways to wider aims. “The Rimba Collective provides a way for FMCG companies to join forces and scale our positive impact to the landscape level,” she said. “Of course, it's still important to invest in projects at farm level, within a specific value chain, but for environmental impacts, we cannot set the boundaries – it goes beyond our value chain, beyond the farmland. This is a great opportunity for us to join forces and escalate positive impacts.”

Lívia also reflected on the benefits these ground-level developments can offer to founding partners like Nestlé: “I think the Rimba Collective is one of the most robust investments we have,” she explained, adding that focusing on a combination of restoration and conservation, climate and communities offers a unique opportunity for funders to be the catalyst for positive developments in multiple areas. 

This bundling of units also reflects the diversity of perspectives among the Founding Partners themselves. “We have different companies with different priorities,” says Lívia, “who all form part of the same initiative, and that's why it's a collective action.” By combining their resources, this group is able to reduce the risk of their investments, while also upscaling positive outcomes through verified ecosystem services. For Nestlé, this is a win-win. “I'm very happy with the partnership,” said Lívia at the end of a productive visit, before adding “I really can’t wait to share this experience with my colleagues when I go back to France.”

This was the second field trip for Rimba Collective Founding Partners completed in 2025, following P&G’s visit to the BITRA project in Sumatra last February.