Tossing Single-Serve into the Trash
Recyclable polypropylene capsules, cups, and lids
Australian capsule maker iCapsulate set a novel record in July by attracting the largest single investment ($1.9 million) on Shark Tank, a TV show in which firms pitch their businesses for funding.
Founder and c.e.o. Kane Bodiam told a panel of celebrity investors his 18-month-old firm was already producing 35 million biodegradable, hermetically sealed coffee capsules a year.
They loved it, evidence the tide of public opinion may be turning in favor of manufacturers willing to make the extra effort for consumers who want convenience without angst.
Single-serve capsules and pods are portrayed in a negative light due to the huge quantities produced (20 billion in 2016) and their inherent indestructible qualities — the same features that prevent staling and withstand the heat and pressure of machine brewing.
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Other challenges include the smaller format which recycling equipment sifts as trash and the fact capsules often contain several components, not all of which can be recycled.
“Not surprisingly, there’s been a movement towards more sustainable solutions across the category - specifically in recyclable and/or compostable solutions to mitigate landfill waste,” said Dave Foster, global business development manager at Printpack, Inc. in Atlanta, GA.
Printpack saw the opportunity to commercialize a more sustainable solution and developed a recyclable polypropylene pod that has been in the market since 2013. One of the challenges, with recyclable pods is that consumers are still uncertain about what to do with the packaging. This confusion led to Printpack’s use of Green Blue’s How2Recycle labeling system.
“As a converter, Printpack’s role is to provide innovative solutions that are prequalified for the appropriate label. We work with other member companies of the Association of Plastics Recyclers, as well as H2R leaders, to facilitate the transition into a package that is not just recyclable, but actually recycled,” said Dave McLain, market development manager.
“Coffee pods and PE pouches are two examples of innovations that allow brands to achieve their sustainability goals about the after-use disposition of the package,” he said. Printpack is also currently working on a solution to address the interest in a biodegradable pod.
Developed in 2012, LBP Manufacturing’s Upshot was initially created to provide consumers with an alternative to the Keurig cup. LBP’s unique coffee filter basket was specifically designed to provide a full sensory experience with the coffee, through it’s coffee filter basket which incudes an open side wall, while providing an eco-friendly product that is recyclable. In February 2017, LBP was awarded a United States patent for its innovative singe-serve coffee filter basket.
Among compostable suppliers, Club Coffee’s Purpod 100 was recently recognized for its efforts in creating a sustainable alternative for single serve. In May Club Coffee was awarded the gold prize in the sustainable packaging category at the PAC Canadian leadership awards.
This spring Portland, Ore.-based Boyd’s Coffee, the oldest family-owned coffee company in the Pacific Northwest, switched to Club Coffee’s design. “As a fourth-generation Oregon company, we care deeply about our impact on the environment, and strive to find innovative ways to protect our planet,” said c.e.o. Jeffrey Newman.
The US is a $5 billion coffee capsule market. Capsules are also a big hit in Australia where consumers eagerly embrace brands making the efforts to package their coffee in biodegradable plastic.
Capsule Pack Pty. Ltd., located in Arundel, Queensland, is a contract packer specializing in sustainable capsules for use in Nespresso and Lavazza Blue coffee makers.
The company is the only packer in Australia offering 100% biodegradable Nespresso-compatible capsules. The plant-based plastic and lid is certified under the EN13432 standard which means they break down by themselves in less than 180 days in industrial compost.
Single-serve is not going away. Instead, consumers are actively seeking products they can dispose of with a good conscience. They simply want products that lighten their ecological footprint while meeting their need for convenience. [AMH]
