SWITZERLAND – Nestlé, a Swiss multinational food, and drink processing conglomerate, has introduced Starbucks At Home by Nespresso capsules made using 80% recycled aluminum as part of R&D to help meet its 2025 sustainability ambition.
The company said aluminum is infinitely recyclable and is one of the most widely recycled materials in the world.
The material is widely used because of the amount of energy saved in the production of aluminum and is well suited to the circular economy.
Under the guidance of the 2025 ambition of using 100% recyclable or reusable packaging, the Swiss multinational food and drink company noted that Starbucks At Home by Nespresso coffee capsules are made using 80% recycled aluminum.
The products have become the first among the Starbucks At Home by Nespresso range to adopt this new innovation.
Nicole Roos, Business Executive Officer for Beverages at Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region explained “With every material we use to produce the capsules, we are committed to ensuring that none of our packaging ends up in landfill or as litter and aim to minimize the impact of our packaging on the environment.”
This includes advocating for adequate recycling infrastructure for coffee capsules regardless of the material used. In addition, aluminum can be re-melted and reused infinitely, giving it a second life”.
He added that recycled aluminum comes from a variety of sources including post-consumer scrap as well as scrap recovered during the production processes.
Using 80% recycled aluminum is not only better for the environment, but also helps to maintain the freshness and protect the aromas of coffee, Roos revealed.
According to Roos, the aluminum used on the product provides an exceptional barrier to oxygen, light, and humidity and is, therefore, an excellent choice to protect volatile aromas and freshness for a long time.
In addition, the use of 80% recycled aluminum demonstrates the recyclability of aluminum which the company wants to encourage consumers to recycle their aluminum capsules.
Roos explained that when a customer recycles the Starbucks® At Home by Nespresso® coffee capsules, it helps decrease the carbon footprint of your cup of coffee.
This is a key aspect of the Nestlé ESARRE initiative that focuses on three key pillars RETHINK, REDUCE and REPURPOSE to tackle sustainability issues.
The Starbucks At Home by Nespresso range is currently available in selected stores including Checkers, Pick ‘n Pay, Spar, and Makro as well as convenient online platforms including Takealot, Checkers Sixty60 and Pick ‘n Pay Online.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro-industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
