Nespresso has committed $USD 1.2 million to improve the recycling rates of their coffee capsules. Currently, Nespresso’s coffee capsules are primarily made from aluminium, and Nespresso claims that switching to a lightweight aluminium will allow the used capsules to be reused in new products.
The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and the Sims Municipal Recycling (SMR) teams have partnered with Nespresso and the hope that through New York’s curbside recycling programme the changes will be clean up the streets.
SMR plans to use the funding to improve the technologies and methods involved in sorting and processing the recycling, helping to reduce the amount of aluminium that ends up in landfill sites. In addition to the encouragement of recycling throughout New York, the new equipment is said to be up and running by the end of the year.
Guillaume Le Cunff, president and CEO of Nespresso USA, said, “Nespresso is deeply committed to the circular use of our products, choosing aluminium packaging because it both protects the quality of our exceptional coffees and can be recycled and reused again and again.”
“This collaboration will provide New York City-based consumers with another convenient way to recycle used capsules and other aluminium products at home, allowing these items to be given many new lives.”
Thomas Outerbridge, general manager of Sims Municipal Recycling, said, “Nespresso has been extremely proactive in working with us to find an effective solution that is convenient for customers, and that will allow us to direct the aluminium into productive reuse.”
