+ How do I recycle my used pods?
You can recycle your capsules in one of the following ways:
Hand out the filled recycling bag to our recycling partner ACS courier during the delivery of your order. At this time Box Now locker delivery does not participate in our recycling pick up program. Το get your Recycling Bag(s) visit a Nespresso boutique to pick up or add to cart while placing an order online. You can also drop your recycling at any of our Nespresso Boutiques across Cyprus.
The volume of capsules collected is transferred to our recycling partner. A specially designed capsule recycling machine separates the coffee from the aluminum, 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 aromas contained in a Nespresso Capsule.
Aluminum can be recycled forever without losing its properties whereas 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.
+Why are the capsules only 80% recycled aluminum, not 100%?
There are two reasons:
(1) we must use some virgin aluminum to fine-tune the alloy; and (2) the membrane is still made from virgin aluminum. But of course, we’re working towards increasing the percentage of recycled aluminum that we use.
+What is happening with the recycled capsules? Are they ending up in new capsules?
Aluminum that is recycled, (including our capsules), is collectively reprocessed and endlessly reformed. Most of the capsules that are recycled are returned into the general aluminum stream, to become new aluminum 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 aluminum re-smelters are located there, and it doesn’t make sense environmentally to bring back capsules from countries further away.
+Where does the recycled aluminum come from?
The recycled aluminum comes from a variety of sources, including post-consumer scrap as well as scrap recovered during the production process.
+Will changing the aluminum change the taste of the coffee/extraction of my coffee?
No, the extraction, and thus the taste of your coffee, will not change.
+What does the claim 80% recycled aluminum really mean?
It means that 80% of the aluminum we use for the complete capsule (the capsule itself, plus the foil membrane) is recycled aluminum.
The membrane has a different functional requirement than the main capsule body, and for now we will continue to use virgin aluminum to ensure it functions effectively.
The capsule body alone, excluding the foil membrane, consists of at least 90% recycled aluminum.
+Why do you still use packaging – there must be other solutions to offer good quality coffee, with less environmental impact?
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 aluminum 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.
Aluminum 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.
+Are the machines recyclable?
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.
+Which are the next steps of recycling after leaving my capsules?
The volume of capsules collected is transferred to our recycling partner in Cyprus.
A specially designed capsule recycling machine separates the coffee from the aluminum, 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 aromas contained in a Nespresso Coffee.
Aluminum can be recycled forever without losing its properties whereas 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.
