Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a strategic tool for green business – also in the food industry. Nestlé is showing how technology, sustainability and responsible corporate governance can work together.
By Jan Nintemann and Jochen Siegle | Photo: Sigmund, Unsplash
The digital transformation is now also having a profound impact on the global food industry. At the food company Nestlé, generative AI is not only being used to increase efficiency, but also specifically to promote sustainability and climate goals – a forward-looking approach that will also be discussed at the greentech trade fair TransformIT Europe.
AI as a driver for green business
Nestlé uses AI-supported models to improve demand planning, optimize supply chains and reduce waste – measures that have a direct impact on resource efficiency and CO₂ reduction. Specifically, for example, the arrival time of delivery containers is predicted, which makes logistics processes leaner and reduces emissions.
Another example: In production, image-processing AI systems help to reduce energy consumption and minimize production errors. This is also part of the sustainable transformation.
CO₂ tracking with AI – a key to the future
A central goal at Nestlé is to better record emissions along complex agricultural supply chains and to derive intelligent procurement decisions from this. AI helps to make CO₂ footprints more transparent and optimize them for sustainability – a prime example of the use of ClimateTech in global corporations.
Technology with responsibility
However, Nestlé also emphasizes the limits of technology. Cultural contexts, human creativity and ethical issues must not be displaced by automated processes. This is why the company pursues the “human in the loop” approach, in which AI generates suggestions but the final decision remains with humans – especially for creative or brand-sensitive tasks.
Between claim and reality: Criticism of Nestlé remains
At the same time, Nestlé has been criticized for years, including for greenwashing allegations, water privatization, child labor in cocoa supply chains, plastic waste, and other human rights and ecological shortcomings.
These areas of tension raise the question of whether technological advances such as AI-based sustainability solutions are actually bringing about real change – or are primarily used to cultivate a company’s image. For a credible sustainable transformation, the use of technology and corporate responsibility must be measurably and transparently intertwined.
CIOs as drivers of transformation
The role of CIOs is therefore changing fundamentally. They are not just technological enablers, but must orchestrate transformation, data ethics and sustainability holistically in the future. According to Nestlé, the future belongs to companies that see AI as an integrated core competence and not as an additional function.
Conclusion for TransformIT Europe: Nestlé’s example shows that the path to sustainable business leads through data-driven intelligence – but credibility determines whether true progress is made.
An ideal topic for panels and best practices at the upcoming TransformIT Europe 2026 trade fair with an accompanying GreenTech conference in Brussels.
Sources & Links:
https://www.computerwoche.de/article/4016023/nestle-macht-ki-zum-hauptgang.htm
https://vegconomist.de/maschinen-anlagen-verfahrenstechnik/verpackung/nestle-ibm-verpackungen/