Nestlé launches 'Starbucks at Home' coffee capsules made from 80% recycled aluminium

Nestlé breathing high on environmental issues has declared that the coffee capsules from its luxury brand, ‘Starbucks at Home’ by Nespresso are made out of 80 per cent recycled aluminium. The company is on a quest to transform all of its packing materials into 100 per cent recyclable or reusable products by 2025 and this might be a very calculated move towards sustainability.

The people of Cape Town are in for a desirable surprise as their concerns about wastage and pollution in the neighbourhood would be taken care of after wise implementation of the company’s scheme.

Aluminium is an infinitely recyclable material that acts as a boon for the company as its production process will also require less energy. Moreover, this is the first time that Nestlé is using recycled aluminium in the range. 

The business executive officer for Beverages at Nestlé East and South Africa Region, Nicole Roos, elucidated: “With every material we use to produce the capsules, we are committed to ensuring that none of our packagings ends up in landfill or as litter and aims to minimise 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, aluminium can be re-melted and reused infinitely, giving it a second life,” he added.

The recycled aluminium originates from different variations of resources, like, post-consumer scrap or the residual scrap retrieved during the manufacturing procedure.

The application of 80 per cent recycled aluminium is not only beneficial for the environment but it is also among the best non-ferrous materials that can preserve the purity and fragrance of coffee for a long period.

Aluminium is opaque and gives protection to the inside of the coffee pods from directly getting exposed to the sun rays which can diminish the shelf-life of the coffee. The metal also acts as an active shield to negate oxygen which can destroy the powdery nature of the coffee and produce lumps. Aluminium is extremely suitable for keeping the aromas and freshness of any product alive for a substantial amount of time. 

With the use of 80 per cent recycled aluminium, the company showcases the metal's malleability and urges its customers to recycle their aluminium capsules on time.

Nicole Roos explained: “When we recycle the ‘Starbucks at Home by Nespresso’ coffee capsules you also help decrease the carbon footprint of your cup of coffee.”

“This is a key aspect of the Nestlé east and Southern Africa Region’s ‘RE initiative’ that focuses on three key pillars, RETHINK, REDUCE and REPURPOSE, to tackle sustainability issues,” Roos ended the conversation on a positive note.