Nestlé claimed 77% of its agricultural commodities are verified as deforestation-free, a key milestone in the company’s efforts to achieve its zero-deforestation commitment.
 
In 2010, Nestlé made a no deforestation commitment to ensure that none of its products globally would be associated with deforestation by 2020. Over the years, the company has worked with partners like Airbus and Earthworm Foundation, and its suppliers to identify areas at risk of deforestation. The company is using a combination of tools, including certification, supply chain mapping, on-the-ground verification and satellite imagery from the Starling system to achieve this goal.
 
Starling is the result of a fruitful collaboration between Airbus, Earthworm Foundation and Nestlé. Nestlé is now using the system to monitor its entire palm oil supply chain. Pilots in pulp and paper are also now underway and the company plans to extend it to soya later in 2019. Starling’s technology helps Nestlé understand better where deforestation occurs, what drives it and who is involved. The company uses this information to verify compliance, challenge its suppliers and prioritize transformative actions.
 
Magdi Batato, executive vice president, head of operations, Nestlé S.A., said: “Innovation and technology like Starling is accelerating our journey towards zero deforestation. This is transforming the way we manage deforestation risks in our palm oil supply chain—we are using this tool to hold our suppliers and ourselves accountable. We are satisfied with our progress, but there is much more to do. The last miles to go are always the hardest.” 
 
“Starling turns terabytes of satellite images into actionable insight, enabling customers to understand where and why deforestation happens and make the best possible decisions,” said Grazia Vittadini, chief technology officer, Airbus.
 
Transparency is essential in ensuring sustainable supply chains. Nestlé also published a Transparency Dashboard that uses Starling data to provide information on deforestation trends observed near the mills it sources from.
 
“Nestlé is the first company to use satellite monitoring across all its palm oil supply chain, accelerating its no deforestation commitment and providing such level of transparency to the public,” said Bastien Sachet, CEO of Earthworm Foundation. “The data collected through these satellites points out that challenges remain and no single company can achieve that on its own. All businesses that have similar commitments must start monitoring, verifying and most importantly acting on the basis of what these tools reveal to us. Eventually, publically available information about deforestation and supply chains will allow consumers and investors to really see which companies are truly walking the talk.”
 
Nestlé will continue to engage with all its suppliers to fulfill its no deforestation commitment more quickly. In particular, the company also recognizes the need for a collaborative approach to improve smallholders capacity in eliminating deforestation. Nestlé is working to find solutions that ensure sustainable supply chains while respecting people’s rights to improve their livelihoods. 
 
Combatting deforestation requires true transformation of all global commodity-based supply chains—and this is a shared responsibility.
 
Nestlé therefore invited other consumer goods companies to adopt innovative satellite monitoring services to accelerate efforts to achieve deforestation-free supply chains and transparently report on their progress. Nestlé called for urgent collaboration as immense challenges remain. By inviting others to embark on this journey, Nestlé hopes to inspire further collective action towards sustainable supply chains and help transform the whole industry.