When we launched Beyond the B, there was one conversation we knew we had to have: the story behind Nespresso’s B Corp certification.
In today’s episode, we’re joined by Lucy Bai, Sustainability Manager for Nespresso USA, who gives us an inside look at their B Corp journey. We explore how Nespresso approached their certification, the changes they’re making as they prepare for recertification, and how they are responding to critiques around supply chains, single-use products, and the role of multinationals within the B Corp community.
This interview takes place within a broader and ongoing debate in the B Corp movement. Voices like Erinch Sahan have challenged whether the popular "doing well by doing good" narrative truly accounts for the deep structural differences between profit-driven companies and those designed from the ground up to prioritize people and planet. Some fear that certifying companies like Nespresso risks diluting the movement’s core values. At the same time, we ask whether "canceling" companies like Nespresso truly advances the goal of building an economy that works for the benefit of all life.
Throughout the conversation, we aim to strike a balance: offering tough but fair questions, while staying grounded in curiosity and complexity. Whether you are skeptical of Nespresso’s certification or curious about their work on regenerative agriculture, carbon insetting, agroforestry, biodiversity, and beyond, we invite you to listen with an open mind. You can email us at beyond@lifteconomy.com if you would like us to ask Lucy any follow up questions.
Key Points From This Episode:
Quotations
“At the end of the day, the product Nespresso is putting on the market – is backed by, not just sustainable farming practices, but trying to really implement regenerative farming practices. We're also trying to ensure that the farmers are being paid a living income.” — Lucy Bai
“Our sustainability initiatives are not going to be deprioritized because of our financial performance.” — Lucy Bai
“We are very open to feedback from the B Corp community.” — Lucy Bai
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
We Want to Hear from You
We want to hear from you! Email us at beyond@lifteconomy.com with requests for content, suggestions for future guests, and feedback about our episodes.
B Corp Consultant
Interested in certifying, recertifying, or maximizing the value of your B Corp certification? Learn more about our B Corp consulting services at LIFT Economy.
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Gratitude:
Thank you to Corey Lien, Nozomii Torii, and Kirsten G. Bryant for being our monthly contributors at Beyond the B!