Coffee capsules for portion coffee machines are still very popular. However, with every used capsule - as with all other portion containers - valuable materials end up in household waste.
There are numerous endeavours to use more renewable raw materials and recycled materials for beverage packaging. In the packaging journal At the beginning of the year, we reported on the development of self-dissolving milk capsules made from sugar at the University of Halle-Wittenberg. The Austrian packaging manufacturer Alpla has now introduced coffee capsules that can be used at home after use. Compost can be utilised.
The special feature of what the company claims to be the world's first home compostable coffee capsules is the material „Golden Compound green“, writes Alpla. This bio-based plastic contain ground Natural fibres of the sunflower husk. The capsule and filter fleece are therefore completely degradable in garden compost within six months. The cover film is also compostable.
Bio-material comparable to conventional plastics
The sunflower material from Golden Compound is a by-product of the food industry. The Oxygen barrier is comparable with conventional plastics such as PP-EVOH-PP. Alpla states that the oxygen permeability is 0.0021 cubic centimetres per capsule per day at a pressure of 0.21 bar. Compostability has been certified by TüV Austria Belgium.
Alpla and Golden Compound have already found a first user for the compostable coffee capsules. Amann Coffee from Vorarlberg/Austria has already adopted the new development for its products. The capsules fit into all current Nespresso machines.
Golden Compound will be presenting its new „Golden Compound green“ material for compostable coffee capsules from 16 October at the industry trade fair Fakuma in Friedrichshafen.
Golden Compound at the Fakuma 2018: Hall B4, Stand 4114
