Aluminium comes with multiple functional and environmental benefits that make it an excellent choice for our capsules. In fact, we believe aluminium has the potential to become an icon for sustainable consumption.
ALUMINIUM KEEPS COFFEE FRESH
For decades, aluminium has been used to protect everyday food products – such as butter, chocolate and coffee – from exposure to oxygen, moisture and light. Because of its unique ability to protect against harmful substances, it keeps foods fresher for longer, preventing unnecessary waste.
For the same reason, we use aluminium for Nespresso capsules. It’s able to protect the unique aromas and flavours of our coffees – unlike any other material available today.
ALUMINIUM IS INFINITELY RECYCLABALE
75% of the aluminium ever produced is still in use today*. That’s because it’s durable and there is no limit to how many times it can be reprocessed: aluminium is infinitely recyclable. No matter how many times it’s recycled and recast into different forms, aluminium retains its original material properties.
Aluminium’s functional and environmental benefits surpass all others. That’s why it remains our material of choice for protecting our high-quality coffees.
Every capsule has the potential to become another capsule – or something else entirely.
Aluminium foil provides a complete barrier to light, oxygen, moisture and bacteria
Aluminium is the 2nd most abundant metallic element in the Earth’s crust
Aluminium is lightweight, easy to mould and recyclable
Recycling aluminium takes only 5% of the energy needed to extract new aluminium from ore
A soda can will be back on the supermarket shelf just 60 days after recycling
ALUMINIUM AND THE PRINCIPLES OF MATERIAL STEWARDSHIP
86% of the carbon footprint of aluminium occurs between bauxite mining and primary production.
Together with IUCN and other partners, we initiated the process that led to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, the aluminium industry’s first global standard on traceability and socio-environmental performance.
Alongside a range of local partners, we invest in dedicated recycling channels as well as collective schemes – giving Nespresso consumers the opportunity to consume their coffee sustainably.
Maarten G. Labberton, Packaging Director, European Aluminium Association“Aluminium is a sustainable and even permanent material – it’s produced, used and endlessly recycled without losing its intrinsic and valuable properties.”
*The Aluminium Association.
Article updated in: March 2022.
