Nespresso will become the first company to use responsibly-sourced aluminium supplied by Rio Tinto, to produce its coffee capsules.

The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together with Nespresso’s capsule manufacturers to fulfil a commitment of sourcing 100 per cent sustainable aluminium by 2020.

In a statement, Rio Tinto has remarked that the use of Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Certified Aluminium is an important milestone towards reducing the impact that the world’s second most used base metal has on the planet.

The ASI sets out standards to promote the protection of biodiversity, respect for indigenous peoples’ rights, water management and low-carbon emissions during the production of aluminium.

The ASI’s Chain of Custody Standard creates a traceability mechanism, so that end-users like Nespresso can be sure that the aluminium they buy has been manufactured by ASI-Certified producers at each stage of the process. The standard is the first of its kind for any industrial metal.

Rio Tinto Aluminium Chief Executive Alf Barrios noted this as an important step towards the use of responsibly sourced aluminium across manufacturing industries.

“We expect the demand from consumers for sustainable products to continue growing and Nespresso drinkers can have confidence the aluminium we supply for their capsules meets the highest international standards,” said Mr Barrios.

Nespresso chief executive officer Jean-Marc Duvoisin said that Nespresso was proud to have been a driving force in creating and implementing the ASI.

“Together we have made responsibly-sourced aluminium a reality, and the ASI traceability mechanism will enable us to meet our commitment to customers to reduce the impact of their consumption. This is a positive step towards creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future,” concluded Mr Duvoisin.

Source: www.riotinto.com