Since 1991, Nespresso has sought to provide convenient means for consumers to be able to recycle their Nespresso capsules. Our capsules are made from aluminium, a material that can be recycled again and again1, so these facilities have helped provide a practical pathway to more circular solutions.
As of today, there are 74 countries with collection systems2.
A BOLD LEAP FORWARD FOR CAPSULE RECYCLING
Building this infrastructure has helped provide greater convenience to Nespresso consumers which helps to drive-up recycling rates. But what about the other, increasingly commonplace, aluminium coffee capsules?
We’re determined to lead the way in shaping solutions that bring further-reaching, industry-wide benefits. That’s why in 2019, we took a bold leap forward, inviting other portioned coffee manufacturers to share in our recycling system.
A game-changing move recognising that collaboration – not competition – is the only viable pathway to a truly global aluminium coffee capsule recycling solution.
“WE HAVE BUILT A GLOBAL SCHEME FOR RECYCLING OUR CAPSULES, AND BY INVITING OTHER COMPANIES TO JOIN OUR SYSTEM, WE HOPE TO OFFER A SOLUTION FOR THE WHOLE CATEGORY. THIS DECISION IS ALIGNED WITH OUR GLOBAL INITIATIVES TO SHAPE A WASTE-FREE FUTURE AND DRIVE BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE TOWARDS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY.”
JEROME PEREZ, GLOBAL HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY, NESPRESSO
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A CIRCULAR FUTURE
Key industry players are already recognising the opportunities this presents for circular economy transition.
IN PRACTICE: FRANCE
Nespresso, Nestlé and Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE) have formed the Alliance for the Recycling of Aluminium Capsules, with the bold intention of recycling all aluminium coffee capsules in France.
In France, like many countries, the public recycling infrastructure is incapable of recycling small, lightweight packaging such as aluminium coffee capsules. That's why – as well as offering collection points via the extensive Nespresso network – Nespresso France has collaborated with Citeo to install systems that separate aluminium packaging from other types of packaging, in French recycling centres.
As a result, 93% of Nespresso customers have access to a recycling solution close to home.
“IN A CONTEXT OF ECOLOGICAL EMERGENCY, WE, AS MAJOR AGRIBUSINESS COMPANIES, HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE ACTION IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OUR PACKAGING HAS ON THE ENVIRONMENT. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT, THROUGH THIS COLLECTIVE EFFORT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY TAILORED SOLUTIONS TO MEET THESE CHALLENGES AND DEPLOY THEM EFFECTIVELY IN FRANCE.”
JUAN AMAT, MANAGING DIRECTOR, JDE FRANCE
“AFTER 10 YEARS OF WORKING ON THIS AND THE SETTING UP OF AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO RECYCLE ALL SMALL ALUMINIUM PACKAGES IN FRANCE, THE SO-CALLED ‘METAL PROJECT’, I AM DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO SET UP THIS ALLIANCE FOR THE RECYCLING OF ALUMINIUM CAPSULES WITH JDE, AND TO EXTEND THE INVITATION TO ALL OTHER ALUMINIUM CAPSULES MANUFACTURERS TO JOIN US. THE DEPLOYMENT OF THIS UNIQUE RECYCLING SYSTEM, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE, WILL BE KEY IN SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONING TOWARDS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY.”
ARNAUD DESCHAMPS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, NESPRESSO FRANCE (2008-2020)
IN PRACTICE: SWITZERLAND
Nespresso and Delica AG – a Migros enterprise – are joining forces to enable its Cafe Royal capsules, as well as any Nespresso capsules, to be collected in about 680 Migros branches nationwide.
These collection points are in addition to the over 3,700 Nespresso collection points in existence and provide coffee lovers with new opportunities to enjoy their coffee and conveniently recycle their capsules too.
We look forward to announcing further partnerships in this circular initiative in the near future.
1. Despite the melt loss, the metal properties are unchanged and it can be recycled repeatedly.
2. Data updated per The Positive Cup 2023 Progress document. All other data reflect the moment this article was published.
Article published in: May 2020; updated in July 2024.
