With its Recycling program for the capsules Nespresso introduces its concrete commitment to the environment. The life cycle of the capsule and the content ends up not just to the enjoyment of your Cup of coffee. The Aluminium and the coffee grounds can be recycled in an exemplary, of course, under the condition that the consumer make their contribution to the Nespresso for the target, the never-ending life-cycle, by collecting the capsules. The aluminum capsules are used not only because of their outstanding properties with respect to sealing and protection of the coffee powder prior to the three-fold risk due to oxygen, moisture and exposure to light, but also because of their unique Suitability for effective Recycling. In fact, the accumulated aluminum must be melted, so that the original properties are restored. A huge advantage, especially when one considers that the energy of aluminum needed for the cost of Recycling aluminum is only 5% of the production of the same amount of primary required energy. This means a huge energy advantage, which is not, of course, escaped also Nespresso. The properties of aluminum allow, therefore, an endless Recycling. This is clearly an advantage in the fight for the protection of the climate and natural resources.

of The coffee grounds will be separated from the Aluminium of the capsules to be used in Biogas or compost turned. (Photo by Nespresso)

How does the Recycling?

Since 1991, Nespresso is implementing a comprehensive recycling program for the recycling of coffee capsules. In addition to the extremely practical “Recycling at Home”Service, in which consumers can the used capsules from home free return, also make 2700 collection, spread all over the country, and the Swiss consumers for their environmentally responsible behavior is known, capsules recycle about half of all the consumed Aluminium. For such a success of Nespresso has spared quite clear no cost.

capsule and the contents. recycled

most people do not know that Nespresso coffee capsules only Aluminum, but also contained in the coffee grounds recycled While the aluminum is melted, it is removed from the coffee grounds carefully and for the generation of energy used and then manufactured into fertilizer. The collected capsules to be transported to Moudon and the Barec group is processed. The Recycling is done in two steps: separation of the many, in the collected Material existing, non-recyclable debris and then the separation of the coffee grounds and aluminum. The collected capsules are supplied in a storage shed. In the first processing step, the bags are opened by machine and the capsules removed. You will then be sorted manually and then the crusher. It can be separated in a System of Seven, and against pole magnet, aluminum and coffee grounds. The aluminum is melted down while the coffee grounds will be extracted and delivered to the biogas plant of the company green watts in Henniez, where it will be renewable energy, and then fertilizer.

The coffee capsules during the Recycling process in Moudon. (Photo by Nespresso)

benefits of recycling aluminum

“Generally speaking, it is on the basis of the equivalence of that with the Recycling of 95% of the production of primary aluminium, the energy required can be saved,” says alu.ch.

the second life of The coffee set

Together with other organic waste (slurry, manure, flour dust etc.) from the coffee grounds in a methane-extraction system, Biogas, electricity and heat generated is recovered. This is done in the plant of the company green watts in Henniez with the coffee grounds from the Nespresso capsules. From the Biogas of the plant from green watt recovered heat is used by Nestlé Waters in the bottling plant in Henniez. The generated electricity is fed into the Swiss electricity grid and supplies power to approximately 1’000 households. It is interesting to note that the coffee grounds has a very high energy potential. So, it generates almost 60% of the energy produced , even though its quantitative proportion is only slightly more than 10% of the used organic material. The energy produced in the biogas plant from the coffee set a single capsule is sufficient for the manufacture of a new aluminium capsule. According to the methane extraction is a 100% natural high-quality fertiliser, which will be used by the partners of the biogas plant to farmers. This contributes to the protection of Henniez source.