FAQ

A precision consumption system like Nespresso uses a precise amount of water, coffee ground and energy to make one cup - minimising food, water and energy waste. With other methods of coffee preparation, consumers tend to use more coffee than required and keep it warm for too long - then throw out left-over coffee, which represents a lot of waste.

Although it seems counterintuitive, the precise consumption of portioned coffee means that it has a similar environmental impact to filter coffee and mocha, and better than bean-to-cup machines. The footprint of portioned coffee is lower if the capsules are recycled, which is why Nespresso has worked relentlessly since 1991 to increase the volume of used capsules that are recycled.

However, we are constantly innovating and finding new ways to further reduce our impact on the environment. We currently use aluminium as it optimally protects the freshness, taste and quality of Nespresso coffee. That way, we can ensure that the aromas developed during the roasting are retained until the coffee reaches your cup, without the use of overwrapping/pouches. Aluminium also has the added benefit of being infinitely recyclable, which is why we place so much focus on making our global recycling scheme easy to use.

Most of the components and materials of our coffee machines are recyclable. The only parts which are not recyclable are the electronic circuit board and some plastic parts with glass fibres (the brewing unit). Consumers can recycle their machines through the “recycling scheme”, where appliances are sorted by material.

We use aluminium because it optimally protects the freshness, taste and quality of Nespresso coffee. That way, we can ensure that the aromas developed during the roasting are retained until the coffee reaches your cup. We also use aluminium for the capsules to ensure optimal functionality in Nespresso machines. Aluminium also has the added benefit of being infinitely recyclable.

No, the extraction, and thus the taste of your coffee, will not change.

The recycled aluminium comes from a variety of sources including post-consumer scrap as well as scrap recovered during the production process.

Aluminium that is recycled, (including our capsules), is collectively reprocessed and endlessly reformed. Most of the capsules that are recycled are returned into the general aluminium stream to become any new aluminium products, from cans to car or airplane parts. Some of the capsules that are returned to us by consumers in countries close to Germany (France, Be-Ne-Lux and Switzerland) are re-melted and reformed to become new capsules. We focus on countries which are close to Germany as most of the aluminium re-smelters are located there, and it doesn’t make sense environmentally to bring back capsules from countries further away.

Switching to recycled aluminium represents a big change in our production. It therefore takes some time to switch all our production lines. This is being done as a rolling change, and the new capsules will be introduced across the full Original & Vertuo range in the coming 2 years. Original Line Master Origin Colombia is our first coffee capsule using recycled aluminium and by the end of 2021, we aim to have the full Original Line and Vertuo ranges of coffee capsules made using recycled aluminium.

It means that 80% of the aluminium we use for the complete capsule (the capsule itself, plus the foil membrane) is recycled aluminium. The membrane has a different functional requirement than the main capsule body, and for now we will continue to use virgin aluminium to ensure it functions effectively. The capsule body alone, excluding the foil membrane, consists of at least 90% recycled aluminium content.

There are two reasons: (1) we must use some virgin aluminium to fine-tune the alloy; and (2) the membrane is still made from virgin aluminium. But of course, we’re working towards increasing the percentage of recycled aluminium that we use.

The volume of capsules collected is transferred to recycling partner. A specially designed capsule recycling machine separates the coffee from the aluminum there, which is then recycled with environmentally friendly technology, for the production of other products. We use aluminum as packaging material for our capsules because it protects the approximately 900 fragrances contained in a Nespresso Coffee. Aluminum can be recycled forever without losing its properties whreas coffee is used as agricultural fertilizer. Nespresso covers the cost of this entire trip to and from recycling points and provides the proceeds of the process on a non-profit basis.

You can give the bag with the capsules for recycling to the courier, who will deliver your order, with the new service "Recycling at home". Just inform the Coffee Specialist when you will order by phone.

The volume of capsules collected is transferred to recycling provider. A specially designed capsule recycling machine separates the coffee from the aluminum there, which is then recycled with environmentally friendly technology, for the production of other products. We use aluminum as packaging material for our capsules because it protects the approximately 900 fragrances contained in a Nespresso Coffee. Aluminum can be recycled forever without losing its properties whreas coffee is used as agricultural fertilizer. Nespresso covers the cost of this entire trip to and from recycling points and provides the proceeds of the process on a non-profit basis.