22 November 2022          Packaging Europe

Nestlé has teamed up with Huhtamaki to develop paper-based, home-compostable coffee capsules for its Nespresso brand. 

The solution makes use of Huhtamaki’s proprietary technology that allows wood fibres to be molded into intricate shapes with high-precision tolerances to a fraction of a millimetre.

The home compostable paper-based coffee capsule was launched by Nespresso in France yesterday, November 21, 2022. The capsules will initially be piloted with consumers in France and Switzerland in spring 2023 before being introduced more widely.

A representative from Huhtamaki told Packaging Europe that the new capsules are made using 82% paper pulp and include a thin compostable biopolymer film as a protective barrier. The capsules are designed for home composting and have been independently certified as such by TÜV Austria.

Guillaume Le Cunff, Nespresso CEO, comments: “Pushing the boundaries of fine coffee experiences is part of the Nespresso innovation, and since becoming a B Corp earlier this year, we’re more committed than ever to widening the sustainable choices we offer our consumers.

“We are excited to announce our first ever paper-based home compostable capsule, which will complement our offering of aluminium capsules that are both recyclable and made using 80% recycled aluminium.”

“We are delighted to have partnered with Nespresso on a unique home compostable paper-based capsule designed for circularity. This breakthrough innovation is the result of combining fibre, a natural renewable material, with our proprietary high precision technology, creating a sustainable alternative for Nespresso lovers,” adds Charles Héaulmé, President and CEO at Huhtamaki.

It is Huhtamaki’s view that this solution – and the process behind it – opens a number of new use case possibilities. The company believes that it will be able to replace, for example, caps and closures, which are today often made of plastic or metals. Other potential applications are trays or containers that require lids that seal directly to the tray and are able to open/re-close.