Nestlé is increasing the use of recycled materials across its coffee portfolio with Starbucks by Nespresso and Nescafé Farmers Origins introducing capsules made using 80% recycled aluminium.

The capsules are now made with thinner aluminium foil, meaning each capsule uses 9.2% less aluminium and is 8% lighter than before.

“One way to drive circularity is to actively and continuously look at how you can create new life from the materials that you use, and the way in which they’re disposed,” Nestlé general manager for coffee and dairy, Martin Brownsaid.

“It’s important that we not only provide ways for consumers to recycle their capsules, but that we also support demand for recycled materials by using them wherever we can. Using recycled aluminum for our retail ready capsules is a benefit we’re incredibly excited to bring to Australian shoppers, protecting the quality of our coffee, while also trying to look after the environment.”

Aluminium is infinitely recyclable and an ideal barrier to oxygen, light and humidity, protecting coffee aromas and freshness. Recycled aluminium requires 95% less energy to produce than virgin aluminium. The nature of the aluminium alloy needed to make coffee capsules means that the amount of recycled aluminium that can be used to make the capsules is limited to 80%.

Starbucks by Nespresso and Nescafé Farmers Origins offer recycling points at Nespresso boutiques and designated florists, providing simple and accessible solutions to recycle used capsules.

Last year, Nespresso was the first retail coffee brand to launch capsules made from 80% recycled aluminium across its Original Line Master Origin Colombia coffee and has since extended to the full Original Line and Vertuo ranges of coffee capsules.