Nespresso is working to increase the recycling rate of its aluminium coffee capsules. As a result, between March and July 2020, coffee capsules for certain types of coffee made from 80% recycled aluminium were introduced in several countries. By the end of 2021, Nespresso aims to have made all coffee capsules in the Original Line and the Vertuo range from recycled aluminium. The introduction of the capsules follows the introduction of new, fully recyclable boxes for Nespresso machines, 95% of which are made from recycled material, which were launched in early March this year. By the end of 2021, all Nespresso machines will be sold in this new packaging.
"We will continue our efforts to promote recycling among consumers and work towards our ultimate goal of recycling all our capsules," said Jérôme Pérez, Nespresso Head of Sustainability. As a result, the company has invested over CHF 185 million in its recycling programmes worldwide since 2014.
According to the Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung (GVM), the recycling rate for aluminium packaging in Germany from private households is over 85 percent, and the Europe-wide recycling rate is around 67 percent.
Whether the used capsules end up in the yellow bag or in the household waste, as recommended by Nespresso, cannot be answered. But even from the ashes of waste incineration plants, aluminium can still be recovered for recycling. And since remelted aluminium only requires about 5% of the energy needed for primary production, it is definitely a step in the right direction. If you want to do even more for the environment, you should simply not buy your coffee in individual portions.
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