Italian coffee giant Lavazza and Novamont have launched the first wholly biodegradable and compostable coffee capsules for espresso machines.
The new capsule is made of Mater-Bi 3G, a material belonging to the third generation of Novamont bioplastics. It contains a significant percentage of renewable resources, entails a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and is a 100% biodegradable product, ready for biological recycling.
The capsule, which is compatible with the Lavazza Minù coffee machine, contains two high quality blends of 100% Arabica coffee beans certified by Rainforest Alliance (with which Lavazza has been working for more than 10 years).
The capsule is the result of a five-year research project and will be ready in the second half of 2015, to be launched on the market in 2016. Initially it will be available via the e-commerce channel and later at major retailers. The capsule will be compatible with Lavazza's Minu coffee machine.
In the meantime, Lavazza is preparing for the Expo 2015 in Milan, where it will be the Official Coffee Partner of the Italian Pavillon. In this framework, the Lavazza Sustainability Hub, will host a multitude of sustainability related activities such as the reuse of coffee grounds.
Together with Novamont, the Polytechnic University of Turin, Slow Food and Pollenzo University, Lavazza will organise meetings, workshops and trainings focused on the valorisation of the product end of life.
© 2015 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article written by Branislav Pekic
