From commitments to action: Newrest’s 9 CSR pillars in practice

January 26, 2026

Corporate social responsibility at Newrest is treated not as a standalone policy or a set of intentions but as an operational framework embedded into daily activities across the group.

Structured around nine pillars, Newrest’s CSR strategy translates commitments into measurable objectives, concrete projects and locally adapted solutions. From reducing food waste and cutting carbon emissions to promoting inclusion and innovation in management, Newrest focuses on initiatives that deliver tangible environmental and social impact while supporting operational performance. A key strength of this approach lies in its decentralised execution: teams are empowered to design and implement solutions that respond to local realities while remaining aligned with global targets. By systematically linking ambitions to on-the-ground action, the group ensures that CSR is not only articulated in policy documents, but embedded in everyday decision-making and delivered through measurable results.

Click on the infographic below for a global tour of highlights of Newrest’s CSR initiatives:

Reducing food waste
Banana Rescue initiative
🍌 Surplus bananas upcycled into airline catering products through menu design and product development
➤ 8+ tonnes of bananas saved per year

Improving waste management strategy
Valorest biowaste recycling project
♻️ Large-scale sorting and biowaste recovery implemented across a central kitchen and 40 schools
➤ Landfill use reduced, waste management costs cut by ~50%, and compost supplied to local farmers and schools

Promoting a sustainable purchasing approach
Made in Local programme
🌱 Centralised sourcing from local farmers and producers to provide fresh, seasonal products
➤ Fewer intermediaries, improved traceability, stronger local supply chains and higher product quality

Committing to the reduction of single-use plastics
Mobile solar-powered water fountain
💧 Surplus drinking water provided through a solar-powered, mobile solution developed for remote sites
➤ ~2,400 PET bottles avoided per unit per month, with reduced costs and emissions

Developing paperless processes
Tablets for operational monitoring
📱 Paper-based operational monitoring replaced with tablets on site
➤ Reduced paper consumption, improved food traceability and more reliable operational controls

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
CO₂ refrigeration systems at the Madrid Digital Factory
❄️ Conventional refrigerant gases replaced with CO₂ refrigeration systems
➤ Lower global warming potential, improved energy efficiency and reduced cooling-related emissions

Everyday ethics
Hands for Hope project
Construction of a school for children with disabilities, including classrooms, sanitation and recreational spaces
➤ Improved inclusion, safety and community development outcomes

Talent & diversity
Bab Rayan training programme
🎓 10-month catering training programme co-developed with a local NGO for young people leaving social welfare systems
➤ Improved employability while addressing skills needs in the catering sector

Innovation in management
Employee-led CSR contest
🌳 Employee-driven CSR initiative enabling teams to design and deliver local sustainability actions
➤ 600 trees planted near Montreal, strengthening employee engagement and collective action

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