Current Affairs

It’s critical at the current time that efforts towards sustainability and a more environmentally friendly future are not abandoned. With single-use plastics back in the game and take-away rubbish filling up the oceans due to COVID-19, it’s heartening to hear that Nespresso aims to use 80% recycled aluminium for all capsules by end of 2021.

They also hope to achieve carbon neutrality across their supply chain as well as product life cycle by 2022. These goals follow the current trend of conscious consumerism, after all, we live on this planet and shouldn’t keep making it our rubbish bin. It’s a new day and a new dawn for businesses as they are pushed by consumer demands for more responsibility towards the environment.

Nespresso doesn’t just promote excellent coffee, they also aim to lead the market by example, pushing for sustainability and circularity within their business model, without jeopardising the quality of said coffee.

 

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A post shared by Nespresso Malaysia (@nespresso.my) on Sep 28, 2020 at 7:06pm PDT

Aluminium: The Super Material

Earlier this year, coffee capsules made using 80% recycled aluminium were launched for the first time by Nespresso. It was another step in their continued journey towards minimising waste and maximising reuse. By the end of 2021, Nespresso aims to have its full range of coffee capsules made using recycled aluminium.

Head of Sustainability at Nespresso, Jérôme Pérez said “Reaching 80% recycled aluminium in our capsules is a significant milestone and something we have worked hard to achieve together with our suppliers.”

It may surprise some to find that not all materials are capable of being recycled more than once. It’s because of this that although many may claim that recycling plastic is the way to go, finding more sustainable materials instead is still the best option. 

It is where aluminium comes in to save the day. Not only is this chemical element the most widely recyclable material on earth, it is also infinitely recyclable. It requires less energy to produce than a virgin product and can be repeatedly recycled with ease. The recycled capsules are also made of a thinner aluminium foil and each new capsule is produced using 9.2% less aluminium material making them 8% lighter.

This special material also optimally protects the freshness and aromas of high-quality coffee, providing a perfect barrier against oxygen, light and humidity. Truly the perfect little house to keep your coffee fresh for whenever you need it. 

Nespresso also has a Second Life Project where new products and accessories are created as exclusive or limited-edition gifts that are paired with Nespresso Club Members’ purchases with a portion of the aluminium that is recycled. The coffee grounds are also sent to local organic farms to be composted and given back to nature.

Carbon Neutrality 

Nespresso has great ambitions for future years. They have committed themselves recently to make sure that every cup of Nespresso coffee will be carbon neutral by 2022. For ten years before this, the company has worked tirelessly to reduce its carbon emissions and compensated the remainder through agroforestry. 

“Climate change is a reality and our future depends on going further and faster on our sustainability commitments. That is why we are accelerating our commitments to offer our consumers a way to drink a carbon-neutral cup of coffee by 2022, which is a cup of coffee that is made from the finest and rarest beans, sustainably sourced. I truly believe that both our business and the coffee industry can be a force for good in the world by tackling this pressing issue,” said Guillaume Le Cunff, CEO of Nespresso.

In 2017 Nespresso already achieved carbon neutrality in its business operations, but now the challenge was to tackle emissions that occur in its supply chain and product life cycle. They have committed themselves to a few initiatives to achieve this goal. 

These are namely; the reduction of carbon emission within operations; the planting of trees in and around coffee farms where Nespresso sources its coffee; and through investment in high-quality offsetting projects to support forest conservation and restoration as well as implement clean energy solutions within farming communities. 

Recycling Efforts 

Nespresso has made great efforts towards recycling efforts and to date has reached a global recycling rate of 30% and continues working to increase it. Over RM836 million has been invested in its recycling programmes globally with over 100,000 collection points in 53 countries.

For Malaysians, there are two options available for Club Members to recycle Nespresso coffee capsules: by dropping them off at Nespresso Boutiques in The Gardens Mall and One Utama Shopping Centre or by joining the [email protected] initiative by handing their Nespresso recycling bags over to a courier during their next delivery order. 

You can savour a delicious cup of Nespresso coffee knowing that you are contributing to sustainability efforts easily.

Find out more about these sustainability efforts by your friendly neighbourhood coffee company at Nespresso or on their Facebook and Instagram page.