US – US-based plastic packaging manufacturer Berry Global, in partnership with German coffee producer Tchibo and its feedstock supplier Neste, has developed a sustainable coffee capsule for the Qbo brand.
The capsule features polypropylene (PP) made from bio-based renewable raw materials such as waste and residue oils, as well as fats such as used cooking oils.
The introduction of the capsule is part of Tchibo’s effort to enhance the sustainability of its existing Qbo coffee capsules.
Berry Global said that the renewable solution delivers similar quality and properties as conventional coffee capsules while improving sustainability.
Berry International Division Consumer Packaging President Jean-Marc Galvez said: “Delivering the infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities to design products for circularity is one of our core competencies.
“I am incredibly proud of this partnership and its commitment to demonstrating the potential of renewable raw materials to lower the environmental impact of capsules.”
A life cycle evaluation by the Technical University of Berlin revealed that the new Qbo capsule material reduced carbon dioxide emissions by around 35%.
In addition, the feedstock can be easily introduced without changing existing production lines.
Tchibo capsule and innovation Development Manager Marius-Konstantin Wiche said: “We are pleased to offer Qbo capsules made of PP, now produced from 70% renewable raw materials.
“This makes the entire Qbo range – containing sustainably grown Qbo coffee brewed in Qbo machines – one of the most sustainable capsule systems on the market.”
The introduction of the capsules is in line with Berry’s commitment to achieving 30% circular plastic use across its fast-moving consumer goods packaging by 2030.
The Company’s expertise in design for circularity allows for multiple potential solutions to be developed for the future manufacture of coffee capsules, thanks to its ISCC PLUS certified site in Bremervörde, Germany.
The ISCC PLUS certification not only ensured that food contact approval was granted for the new materials but also allows for the quick transition to additional applications over time.
“We chose Berry for this project as they have experience with our product and hold the required ISCC PLUS certification to produce the capsules from renewable materials,” added Wiche.
Last month, Berry Global launched Nova bottles, a range of hot fill sauce bottles made from clear PP.
The bottles are manufactured with co-extrusion blow molding technology and designed to be suitable for both top-down and upright use.
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