NETHERLANDS – A recent study conducted by Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands has provided insights affirming the superiority of compostable bioplastic coffee capsules in terms of sustainability compared to both aluminium and virgin plastic capsules.
This research delved into assessing greenhouse gas emissions and utilized the Material Circularity Indicator (MCI) developed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
The MCI helped quantify the circularity of various materials by considering aspects such as recycling rates, recycled content, process yield, biobased content, reusability, and lifespan.
Ingeborg Smeding, the lead for this project, highlighted the study’s uniqueness in considering circularity alongside greenhouse gas emissions, offering a more comprehensive view of sustainability across different options.
“By considering also the circularity of the materials we gain a broader perspective of the sustainability of the various options,” said Smeding.
The study showcased compostable plastic capsules as the most sustainable choice, boasting an MCI of 100% (fully circular) when composted.
However, the research revealed a challenge: while these capsules prove highly sustainable, they are not universally accepted in organic waste bins across European countries, except for instances like Italy.
European Bioplastics emphasized the need for legislative alterations to accommodate compostable coffee capsules in waste collection systems, underscoring the importance of composters’ concerns about non-compostable capsules contaminating waste streams.
Hasso von Pogrell, managing director of EUBP, stressed the inevitability of phasing out non-compostable plastic coffee capsules and urged European legislators to factor this reasoning into their decisions, particularly ahead of key votes on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
The study flagged virgin plastic and aluminium capsules as less sustainable, with MCIs below 50% and 60%, respectively.
Von Pogrell argued against virgin plastic capsules, citing their non-recyclable nature. He emphasized the potential for confusion between compostable and non-compostable plastic capsules in the organic waste stream and called for certified compostable capsules to avoid this.
Regarding aluminium capsules, the study suggested a slightly better scenario if collected separately through specific systems (mono-collection) for recycling, but it still exhibited a lower MCI compared to compostable capsules.
Challenges in this scenario included accumulating trace elements affecting aluminium’s pliability over time and the necessity for high participation rates in the voluntary mono-collection system.
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