LUXEMBOURG –  Capsul’in Pro has launched world’s first home compostable biobased coffee capsule in efforts to make coffee packaging more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

The Luxembourg-based company says its Nespresso®-compatible coffee capsule is a first of its kind given that its 100% biobased and certified as a home compostable.

The zero-impact capsule also has high oxygen barrier properties that protect the flavour and aroma of the coffee.

 Being completely plant-based, the capsules do not contain materials derived from fossil fuels and can be put in a home compost bin or collected with organic waste after use.

 Capsul’in Pro says spent 5 years developing the technology used in making the coffee capsule.

During the product launch, company CEO Laurent Lombart said, “Today, thanks to Capsul’in Pro’s IML Zero Impact capsule, consumers can have a more sustainable, home compostable coffee capsule with an excellent result in cup.”

This new capsule is a major boost to European Union’s Circular Economy Action Plan which aims to reduce the environmental impact of packaging by 2030.

Capsul’in Pro is one of the largest manufacturers of empty Nespresso®-compatible capsules serving large coffee brands and coffee distributors worldwide.

The Zero Impact Capsule has been developed using the company’s own patented IML (In-Mold Label) technology which allows the oxygen barrier and pre-printed labels to be applied directly onto coffee capsules.

Packaging accounts for around 3% of the coffee supply chain’s total carbon footprint.

Industry experts are in agreement that if plastic packaging isn’t properly sourced, produced, transported, and discarded, it can be detrimental for the environment.

Therefore to be truly “green”, packaging must do more than simply be recyclable or reusable – its entire life needs to be sustainable.

Capsul’in is addressing this challenge by increasing its focus on using renewable raw materials to create a product that can be easily composted at home.

The zero-impact capsule is being launched at a time when major coffee companies are having ambitious goals of reducing the carbon impact of their products.

For example, Swiss food conglomerate and owner of leading coffee brands such as Nescafe and Nespresso Nestle has a goal of making 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.

The company aims to achieve this by reducing use of virgin plastics by one third, leading the shift from virgin plastics to food-grade recycled plastics, and accelerating the development of innovative packaging solutions.

The Zero Impact capsule would thus be a timely saviour for Nestle and other coffee companies desiring to cut down their carbon footprint.

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