AUSTRIA – Packaging company ALPLA has introduced new recyclable, biodegradable coffee capsules with improved barrier properties for the Blue Circle brand made from organic material.
The capsules are paired with a sealing foil in a certified system thought to minimize the migration of the coffee’s scent into the environment.
A newly developed, food-contact material is injection-molded using ALPLA facilities to create the capsules, which aim for optimal compatibility and handling by replicating the established Blue Circle design.
ALPLA CCO Nicolas Lehner said: “Around the world, consumer behavior is becoming more sustainable. We see ourselves as pioneers and are developing the packaging solutions of the future.
“With the biodegradable coffee capsule, we are not only helping our customers achieve their sustainability targets but are also acting in line with the new EU Packaging Regulation, which will require compostable solutions for individual coffee portion packaging in the future.”
Claiming to be compostable, consumers can reportedly place their used capsules directly into their home compost or, where industrial composting is available, throw them away via organic waste bins.
They are designed to enable coffee suppliers, wholesalers, filling companies, and roasting plants to conserve resources and transition into environmentally friendly packaging designs.
Lehner added: “The combination of the material, design and production process is key to the capsules’ stability, leak tightness and barrier. Our technological expertise and experience result in the optimum solution for unadulterated enjoyment.”
Mono-PP pumps
Meanwhile, last month Alpla partnered with South Korean company HANA Innovation to produce recyclable, mono-material plastic pumps for soap, lotion, and shampoo dispensers.
ALPLA began its production of standard pumps for soap and shampoo dispensers in Hyderabad, India, in 2020.
By partnering with HANA Innovation, it hopes to continue its strategic growth in the injection molding (IM) sector.
The companies have also stated that their shared goal is to distribute pumps with patented plastic spring technology worldwide and offer complete systems, including the bottle.
“The potential for high-quality, recyclable pumps is enormous,” says Michael Feltes, global business development director IM at ALPLA.
“As a system provider, we can offer matching bottles at the same time. With this new partnership, we are combining our strengths as a globally operating company with the technological edge of HANA Innovation.”
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