Inbizzy, SAO PAULO, Brazil — Global food and beverage giant Nestlé SA, in collaboration with leading chocolatier Barry Callebaut and Brazilian reforestation startup re.green, has launched a large-scale environmental restoration initiative in Brazil. The project aims to plant over 11 million trees in key regions for cocoa and coffee production.
A Long-Term Environmental Commitment
Nestlé will fully fund its project with re.green and cover 60% of the costs of the Barry Callebaut initiative. Both efforts are part of the company’s broader strategy to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and promote landscape restoration in critical agricultural areas.
Project Highlights:
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Trees to be planted: 11 million
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Total land for restoration: 8,000 hectares (19,768 acres)
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Project locations: States of Bahia and Pará, Brazil
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Project duration: Up to 30 years
The re.green project will plant 3.3 million native trees from the Atlantic Forest biome in Bahia, generating an estimated 880,000 carbon credits.
The partnership with Barry Callebaut will restore 6,000 hectares, with most land being transformed into agroforestry systems for cocoa production.
Environmental and Supply Chain Impact
Barbara Sapunar, Nestlé Brazil’s Director of Business Transformation and ESG, emphasized that the company’s sustainability strategy goes beyond carbon offsets.
“These projects support our decarbonization targets, but more importantly, they regenerate the landscapes we rely on for ingredients. Environmental restoration increases the resilience of our supply chains,” she said.
Thiago Picolo, CEO of re.green, highlighted that companies can move beyond traditional offsetting to directly invest in restoring ecosystems tied to their operations.
Brazil’s Role in the Global Cocoa and Coffee Supply
As the world’s largest coffee producer and exporter, and the fifth-largest chocolate market, Brazil plays a vital role in the global food system. This makes it a strategic location for scaling up climate resilience in agricultural production.
Nestlé’s broader goal is to plant 200 million trees worldwide by 2030, focusing on regions where it sources raw materials like coffee, cocoa, and milk.
About re.green and Barry Callebaut
Re.green is a Brazilian reforestation company backed by billionaire João Moreira Salles and asset manager Gávea Investimentos, founded by former central bank governor Arminio Fraga.
Barry Callebaut, based in Switzerland, is the world’s leading manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa products, serving global brands with high-quality sustainable ingredients.
