EUROPE – Nestlé’s Nespresso in collaboration with Huhtamaki has unveiled a new range of home compostable coffee capsules.
The paper-based capsules are touted as a breakthrough in packaging technology after three years of R&D.
The launch comes at a time when consumer demand for compostable packaging is increasing, and an estimated 45% of French people now home-compost one or more types of biowaste, according to French Environment and Energy Management Agency Consumer 2020 survey.
Meanwhile, according to Innova Market Insights, compostable packaging is regarded by French consumers as the fourth most environmentally sustainable packaging type (11%), behind recyclable packaging (28%), reusable packaging (25%) and packaging made from recycled materials (13%).
Nespresso’s coffee masters have also created four new blends, including an organic coffee, sourced through the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality Program, specifically crafted to act in perfect harmony with these new paper-based capsules.
Guillaume Le Cunff, Nespresso CEO, said: “Pushing the boundaries of fine coffee experiences is part of the Nespresso innovation, and since becoming a B Corp earlier this year, we’re more committed than ever to widening the sustainable choices we offer our consumers.
“We are excited to announce our first ever paper-based home compostable capsule, which will complement our offering of aluminum capsules that are both recyclable and made using 80% recycled aluminum.”
Developed as an alternative for those who prefer and have access to compost, the innovation will widen the sustainable choices already offered to Nespresso consumers through its aluminum capsules.
The product is certified for composting, both home and industrial, by TÜV Austria, an international certification body.
Today, Nespresso offers over 100,000 aluminum capsule recycling collection points in 70 countries, giving almost 90% of customers convenient access.
In some countries, including France where Nespresso is piloting this range, these capsules are accepted in the public biowaste bin.
Charles Héaulmé, Huhtamaki CEO, said: “We are delighted to partner with Nespresso on the home compostable paper-based capsule.
“Part of this breakthrough innovation is the result of combining paper pulp from wood fiber, a naturally renewable material, compressing it to a coffee capsule using our high precision technology, creating another sustainable alternative for Nespresso lovers.”
Nespresso is committed to raising awareness among consumers on how to compost their capsules, as well as advocating for the acceptability of these coffee capsules in the public biowaste/organic bin.
In France, Nespresso initiated Union des Acteurs du Compostable (UAC), an interest group bringing together public bodies, companies, recycling operators, and NGOs to support the implementation of solutions to help producers of biowaste increase the sorting of biowaste as well as to raising awareness amongst consumers about composting.
The new range will pilot initially in France and Switzerland on the Nespresso Original system. It will be further launched in several other European countries within a year.
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