Why recycle?
Concern for the environment and sustainable development is at the heart of Nespresso’s business.
We use aluminum to protect the quality and freshness of our coffee from the harmful effects of light, air and moisture. This material is also durable yet lightweight and can be recycled many times. This means that aluminum can be melted down over time and reused to create new products. We are committed to the responsible supply and production of aluminum and are one of the seven founders of the Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI) established in 2009 with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). ASI enables traceability in the aluminum supply chain and sets the first standard to cover key issues across the aluminum value chain. This includes the management of biodiversity in extraction and the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples, as well as specific criteria for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and responsible management of waste water.
Recycling Process
Recycling the capsules is extremely simple.
All you need to do is order free recycling bags, fill them with used Nespresso coffee capsules and order a pick-up at your convenience. Once collected, the used capsules are sent to a professional recycling company, where they are given a second life.
Step 1
The coffee grounds are separated from the aluminum capsule.
Step 2
Using aluminum recovered from the capsules, Nespresso creates new items such as bicycle frames, pens and machine components.
Step 3
Coffee cups, for example are also made from coffee grounds.
The second life of the capsule
To give a second life to our capsules and their contents, we have created a free recycling program. All you have to do is use the collection of used capsules for recycling through our Customer Service. We will collect them free of charge from you and pass them on for further processing.
To start the service of collecting used capsules, use the following codes:
8.046.752 – order a recycling bag,
99.991.162 – collect a full bag for recycling
Aluminum
Aluminum protects your Nespresso coffee from losing its freshness in a never-ending cycle.
Aluminum is used in the production of Nespresso coffee capsules. It preserves the freshness and ephemeral aroma of the ground coffee.
Aluminum protects the coffee from the negative effects of oxygen, light, and moisture, which can alter the taste of the drink.
The aluminum capsules are designed to fully protect approximately 900 coffee flavors. The airtight sealing of the coffee capsule prevents oxidation and ensures optimal freshness of the coffee in every cup.
After the green coffee beans are roasted, an additional processing step is carried out in a controlled environment to isolate the coffee from air and light. The final step is to place it in a sealed capsule.
Aluminum can be recovered indefinitely by continuing to recycle it. This means that used Nespresso capsules can become a new aluminum product, regenerated many times during processing.
Aluminum is fully recyclable – no matter how many times it is processed, it retains its properties. The aluminum recycling process uses up to 95% less energy than the so-called primary metal production process.
