Nestlé will no longer offer paper-based capsules for its Nespresso coffee brand – a decision it attributes to consumer feedback and product quality.
Previously, Nestlé joined forces with Huhtamaki to develop home-compostable, paper-based Nespresso capsules. Launched in France in November 2022, they were set to be piloted with consumers in France and Switzerland the following year before being distributed more widely.
The capsules were made using 82% paper pulp and featured a thin, compostable biopolymer film as a protective barrier.
Thomasine Kamerling, vice president for Sustainability and Communications at Huhtamaki, told Packaging Europe that the wood fibre was sourced from certified, sustainably managed forests in Europe, and that the capsules were certified for home composting with other organic waste.
On its FAQ page, Nespresso explains that its paper-based capsules were intended as an ‘additional choice’ to the conventional aluminium format – all without compromising on the product’s flavour.
It also claims that the aluminium and paper-based capsules demonstrated similar environmental impacts in an initial Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). A Nestlé spokesperson told t-online that one cup of espresso produces an estimated 79 grams of CO2 with a paper capsule and 81 grams with an aluminium capsule.
Now Nespresso believes that aluminium capsules are the ‘best option’ for maintaining the quality of its freshly roasted coffee.
“When we launched our paper-based capsules, we clearly communicated that they are not more sustainable than aluminium capsules, as both products have a comparable environmental footprint,” Nespresso explains in its FAQ. “We have carefully analyzed customer feedback and are now more convinced than ever that aluminium is the best choice for preserving the taste and aroma of Nespresso coffee.”
Commenting on the development, Liplid CEO Jesper Berthold stated: “Aluminium foil is close to a perfect barrier: almost no oxygen, light or water vapour gets through. A paper capsule relies on a thin bio-based layer to keep oxygen out, and roasted coffee starts losing its aroma as soon as oxygen reaches it.
“Paper is excellent at many things. Being a gas barrier on its own isn’t one of them.”
Nespresso states its ongoing commitment to working alongside authorities and consumers to develop public collection and recycling systems for aluminium capsules, increasing their efficiency and boosting recycling rates.
“We remain fully committed to our recycling initiatives and are pleased to see that recycling is becoming increasingly easier and more convenient for our consumers across Europe,” the brand concludes.
In other news, Lavazza North America has introduced Tablì – a single-serve coffee tab with no capsule, individual wrapping or coating – to consumers in the United States. Each tab is made entirely from compressed coffee that expands as it brews.
