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The Big One: Nestlé subsidiary Nespresso™ would like to consolidate its leader status on the European market with its new Vertuo capsules. Photo: Nestlé Nespresso SA

The Big One: Nestlé subsidiary Nespresso™ would like to consolidate its leader status on the European market with its new Vertuo capsules. Photo: Nestlé Nespresso SA

Collier à Volluto

When unusual jewellery is created from used coffee capsules

Not everyone is a fan of these practical little aluminium capsules that make such tasty coffee by the cupful. The criticisms are that the capsules create too much unnecessary waste, which is also hard to recycle, and that they are made from aluminium that is a burden on the environment. Add to this the increased energy outlay required in the production of the capsules. Alternatives here are more sustainable capsules and improved recycling options. Or you take the waste produced and turn it into something new. Jewellery for instance.
Jewellery made of waste– is a concept care of artist Kathleen Nowak Tucci who produces accessories made of old inner tubes and Nespresso capsules. Photo: Kathleen Nowak Tucci

Jewellery made of waste– is a concept care of artist Kathleen Nowak Tucci who produces accessories made of old inner tubes and Nespresso capsules. Photo: Kathleen Nowak Tucci

Macchiato for the Wrist

This was one of the ideas from pupils at Hamburg school Gymnasium Rahlstedt whose specially founded Coffee Capsule Accessory company was voted ‘2016 Best Junior Company’ in the JUNIOR competition. With seed capital of Euro 490 that the 14 pupils scraped together through the sale of shares to family and friends they founded the company for the production of jewellery made of old coffee capsules.
Such resounding names as INDRIYA FROM INDIA or ROSABAYA DE COLOMBIA could quite well be descriptions for the classy jewellery pieces. Photo: HAWESU

Such resounding names as INDRIYA FROM INDIA or ROSABAYA DE COLOMBIA could quite well be descriptions for the classy jewellery pieces. However, they are not. Photo: HAWESU

In line with their origins the bracelets, necklaces and rings bear names like “Mocca”, “Cappuccino”, “Macchiato” and “Espresso” and currently sell at the still reasonable price of between Euro 8 and Euro 13. The Hamburg youths may have got the idea for the upcycling project when the city council forbad its staff from buying the popular capsules with city funds with the aim of reducing consumption.
Everyone can recycle! Even coffeemaker Nespresso™ is aware of its responsibility and recycles some 75% of its capsules. Photo: Nestlé Nespresso SA

Everyone can recycle! Even coffeemaker Nespresso™ is aware of its responsibility and recycles some 75% of its capsules. Photo: Nestlé Nespresso SA

Capsules with a Difference

As smart as George Clooney – these capsules from food giant Nestlé are so unbeatably practical: easy to use boasting fast and unfussy preparation, constant high quality as well high taste intensity. So no wonder shortly after George made his move into the kitchens of this world the first alternatives to the well-known Nespresso™ came onto the market. One of the latest innovations comes from Cincinnati, developed by Milacron Holdings Corporation. “Klear Can” produces coffee capsules and food cans in transparent and completely recyclable plastic. The capsules are made using an injection moulding process that allows more shapes while offering even wall and barrier layers. This means they can compete with conventional metal cans both in terms of the price and the over two-year shelf-life.
The new Klear Can coffee capsules from Milacron Holdings Corporation today score Category ‘5’ in the Recycling Code. Photo: Milacron Holdings Corp.

The new Klear Can coffee capsules from Milacron Holdings Corporation today score Category ‘5’ in the Recycling Code. Unlike most capsules the Klear Cans are not made of thermo-formed PS but instead of 100% recyclable polypropylene. Photo: Milacron Holdings Corp.

The Freiburg company Original Food has also developed an alternative to the aluminium capsule: their compostable coffee capsules for Nespresso™ systems consist of a specially developed bioplastic made of sustainable raw materials like maize and sugarcane. To replace the foil lid especially thick paper is used.
Fairtrade instead of aluminium. The Original Food coffee capsules contain Fairtrade coffee instead of aluminium. They consist of renewable raw materials. Photo Source: Original Food

Fairtrade instead of aluminium. The Original Food coffee capsules contain Fairtrade coffee instead of aluminium. They consist of renewable raw materials and are also compostable. Photo Source: Original Food

Related links

coffeecapsuleaccessory.jimdo.com
Coffee Capsule Accessory

www.zeit.de
Schülerfirma aus Hamburt-Rahlstedt gewinnt Bundeswettbewerb (german content)

www.handelsblatt.com
Hamburg verbietet Kapsel-Kaffee (german content)

www.eco-world.de
Erste zertifizierte kompostierbare Kaffeekapsel (german content)

www.modemconclusa.de
Höchste Kaffequalität in oekologisch verträglicher Kapsel (german content)

www.tagesanzeiger.ch
Nespresso-Kapsel kommt im XXL-Format (german content)

www.junior-programme.de
Bundeswettbewerb 2016 (german content)

www.plasticsnews.com
Milacron commercializes production for Klear Can, recyclable coffee pods

www.hawesu.com
Exclusive jewelry german handmade (german content)

kathleennowaktucci.com
Recycled Jewelry

Further information

Quality inspection – Nespresso production plant in Avenches, Switzerland. © Nestlé Nespresso SA

Food industry

Small – but packs a fair punch!

© BASF

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PEF – 100% natural, 100% recycled, 100 % material benefits

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Food industry

The reusable packaging trend