Nestlé rolls out its 80% recycled aluminium capsules

Starbucks by Nespresso and Nescafé Farmers Origins are the latest brands within Nestlé’s café-inspired portfolio to introduce capsules made using 80% recycled aluminium across the entire retail range.

The capsules are now also being made with thinner aluminium foil, so each capsule uses 9.2% less aluminium and is 8% lighter than before.

Nestlé General Manager Coffee and Dairy Martin Brown said, “Using recycled aluminum for our retail-ready capsules is a benefit we’re incredibly excited to bring to Australian shoppers, protecting the quality of our coffee, while also trying to look after the environment”.

Recycled aluminium requires 95% less energy to produce than virgin aluminium, so it is well-suited to use in a circular business model. Aluminium is also a good barrier to oxygen, light and humidity, protecting the freshness and aromas of coffee.

The nature of the aluminium alloy needed to make coffee capsules means that the amount of recycled aluminium that can be used to make the capsules is limited to 80%. However, Nestlé is committed to the sustainability journey of its products and packaging in coffee, which includes advocating for adequate recycling infrastructure regardless of the material used and giving waste a second life. To drive recyclability of its own capsules, Starbucks by Nespresso and Nescafé Farmers Origins offer recycling points at Nespresso boutiques and designated florists, providing individuals with simple and accessible solutions to recycle used capsules.

Last year, Nespresso launched capsules made from 80% recycled aluminium across its Original Line Master Origin Colombia coffee, and has since extended to the full Original Line and Vertuo ranges of coffee capsules.