Compostable coffee caps: Lavazza aims to replace all at-home capsules with “Eco Caps”

05 Nov 2019 --- Italian coffee company Lavazza has introduced Eco Caps, a range of compostable coffee capsules, to address consumers’ rising environmental concerns. To ensure that all coffee capsules are responsibly thrown away, Lavazza is also partnering with TerraCycle to launch a free nationwide program to provide a composting solution for used coffee capsules in the UK. The company aims to replace its entire range of at-home capsules with these new capsules by the end of the year.

“The new Lavazza Eco Caps replace the entire range of capsules for home consumption in the UK, without any price difference. This major investment confirms our commitment to product quality and sustainable development,” says David Rogers, UK Managing Director of Lavazza.

The new Lavazza Eco Caps are available in seven taste profiles: Passionale, Qualita Rossa, Lungo Dolce, Tierra Organic, Intenso, Delizioso and Dek Cremoso. 

The Eco Caps are available in seven different flavors.The coffee caps are 100 percent industrially compostable and do not affect taste nor quality. According to the company, Lavazza Eco Caps retain their distinctive aroma for longer than other compostable capsules on the market. This is due to the “aroma-safe” technology, which keeps each capsule fresh for up to 18 months.

As packaging waste is often incorrectly disposed of due to unclear recycling labeling, Lavazza and TerraCycle are set to establish a network of publicly accessible coffee capsule drop-off points around the UK, allowing consumers to conveniently dispose of their capsules. 

“Currently there is limited availability across the UK in terms of the industrial composting facilities needed to compost many products. Partnering with Lavazza, we provide consumers a simple yet effective way to ensure that the new Lavazza Eco Caps are composted correctly. The resulting material is given a second life as useful nutrient rich compost that bolsters crop growth,” says Laure Cucuron, General Manager, TerraCycle Europe.

Lavazza has made efforts to contribute to a cleaner environment in several different ways. According to the company’s Sustainability Report 2018, it reduced 10 percent of emissions from water consumption in manufacturing plants and corporate management.

As single-use packaging is becoming an increasingly troublesome problem, Lavazza and other companies scout for new packaging innovations and technology to responsibly package consumer goods without affecting shelf-life. Indeed, environmental agencies are pressuring food and beverage industry giants to step up their game. 

Cellulose technology developing company PulPac has found a way to replace single-use plastics. In an interview with PackagingInsights, PulPac’s CEO Linus Larssen says the company’s ambition is to “disrupt the packaging industry and set a new and sustainable standard for packaging and single-use products.”

Edited by Anni Schleicher