NKG Unveils New Sustainability Strategy for the Future of Coffee

Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG), one of the world's largest green coffee service groups, has outlined the framework of its new strategy in the 2026 Sustainability Report. The company is now consolidating its sustainability efforts under three main headings: Nature, Resilience, and Livelihoods.

According to NKG's original report, the group operates with over 40 coffee-focused companies in 28 countries. The supply chain extends from farming to export, import to storage, and specialty coffee services.

One of the notable data points in the report is related to agroforestry efforts. NKG reports that 20.9 million trees have been distributed under programs supporting shade, biodiversity, and income diversification for producers in coffee production areas over the past year. The company also announced a 33.9% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in its energy inventory compared to the 2022 baseline year.

These figures are based on the company's statements; the calculation boundaries and methodology used in assessing sustainability performance should also be read alongside the report.

The Climate Issue is Shifting from Environmental Policy to Supply Policy

For the coffee sector, climate change is no longer just a corporate social responsibility issue.

High temperatures, erratic rainfall, drought, and extreme weather events can affect production volume, quality, and supply continuity. Therefore, sustainability investments are becoming an integral part of commercial risk management.

The separate column for "Resilience" in NKG's new strategy is noteworthy in this regard.

The company aims to establish climate risk assessments in its own operations and integrated supply chains by 2028, and to develop adaptation pathways related to this by 2032. Additionally, it aims for regenerative agriculture projects that consider economic sustainability to reach an area of 300,000 hectares by 2032.

Currently, approximately 155,000 hectares are reported to be covered by projects supporting regenerative agriculture.

Sustainable Coffee Cannot Be Considered Apart from the Farmer's Economy

The third pillar of the new strategy, "Livelihoods," focuses on the economic conditions and human rights of coffee-producing families.

NKG defines one of its long-term goals as establishing living income assessments in integrated supply chains by 2027 and providing services aimed at improving livelihoods for 300,000 coffee-producing families.

The company reports that it has reached approximately 90,000 producers in four countries under its NKG Bloom program. Additionally, there are about 350 employees working in the field within the structure of Farmer Service Units in producer countries.

This approach highlights an important reality in the sustainability discussion around coffee: a system in which farmers cannot remain in production cannot be environmentally sustainable in the long term either.

Why Does It Concern HORECA Businesses?

A restaurant or café may not buy coffee directly from farmers. Nevertheless, the risks upstream in the chain can reach the cost of the cup.

If yields decrease in production areas, the price and availability of green coffee may be affected. A decrease in certain quality profiles may lead roasters to change their recipes or search for alternative origins.

Therefore, sustainability should no longer be seen as merely the certification information written on the packaging for businesses purchasing coffee.

Questions can be asked about which origins the supplier works with, the level of traceability, producer support programs, and what plans have been developed against climate risks.

Setting Goals is Not the Same as Proving Results

NKG's 2026 report contains numerous measurable targets. While this is a positive start, it should not be forgotten that the targets for 2028 and 2032 are not results achieved from today.

The true value of sustainability reports emerges when companies consistently publish the same KPIs in the following years.

Particularly, measuring performance in areas such as Scope 3 emissions, farmer income, and regenerative agriculture is much more complex than direct operational data like Scope 1 and 2.

Stafflink's View

In our opinion, the strongest aspect of the NKG report in terms of the coffee sector is that it does not reduce sustainability to just carbon reduction.

The future of coffee depends simultaneously on three questions: will the ecosystem where production takes place survive, can the farm withstand climate shocks, and will coffee production continue to be economically meaningful for producer families?

For roasters and coffee chains in Turkey, this is why supplier evaluation should not only focus on price and cup score. Traceability, producer economics, and climate adaptation also become part of long-term purchasing security.

Sustainable coffee should be a concern not only for the marketing department but also for the purchasing table.