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 CAN BE RECYCLED AGAIN AND AGAIN1
75% of the aluminium ever produced is still in use today2. That’s because it’s durable and there is no limit to how many times it can be reprocessed: aluminium can be recycled again and again. Despite the melt loss, the metal properties are unchanged and it can be recycled repeatedly.
Aluminium’s functional and environmental benefits surpass all others. That’s why it remains our material of choice for protecting our high-quality coffees.
If recycled, aluminium can have a second life, and every capsule has the potential to become 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.”
1 Despite the melt loss, the metal properties are unchanged and it can be recycled repeatedly.
2 The Aluminium Association.
Article updated in: March 2022.
