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A circular economy and coffee
The capsule’s great ball
Aluminium coffee pods? A Swiss invention that conquered the world. An icon, also, within the virtuous loop of recycling, which is highlighted through annual collaborations between Nespresso and other legendary brands.
Used, saved, collected, re-melted down and reshaped… aluminium coffee pods beautifully illustrate the magic characteristics of this material, which can be reborn multiple times and can take on multiple, unique forms. In light of this, just a few years after its founding in 1986, Nespresso launched its very own robust recycling system. Developed in partnership with Groupe Barec, it revolves today around a series of collection points and sorting centres located within the brand’s stores, but also as a unique (free) service: post box collection by local mail carriers. What’s even better is that in 2020, Nespresso cofounded (along with the Migros company Delica) the Swiss Aluminium Capsule Recycling Association, to focus on developing a consistent solution that could be applied industry wide.
Surprising second lives
Considering that over 70% of Nespresso capsules consumed by individuals are now recycled, the concept of a circular economy has truly become a concrete and dynamic reality. To educate naysayers and comfort everyone else, Nespresso has spent the past ten years working on collaborations with different Swiss and international brands under the moniker of their “Second Life” initiative. The idea? Making the recycling process more mainstream through the design and fabrication of iconic, utilitarian objects made from recycled materials.
The aluminium was thus reshaped into Victorinox Swiss Army knives, classic 849 Caran d’Ache ballpoint pens, Mammut vests, an e-bike by Swiss startup Miloo… even the used coffee grounds have been rehabilitated. Initially used to supplement the biogas plant in Henniez, these days (after much research) they are used in certain fabrics and shoe soles, like Zèta sneakers, and some pencil leads. The Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin, co-created with Hublot, even did double-time on the concept by incorporating aluminium elements and using coffee grounds as part of the watch bracelet fabrication! All of the projects embody Swiss know-how and innovation, and are brought to life in collaboration with other sustainability-forward brands. In a nod to their original form, all of the objects — which are made as limited editions — take on a colour inspired by the Nespresso capsules.
“Schuss” recycling
In their latest collaboration, Nespresso approached ski equipment fabricator Faction, which was founded by a group of freeriders in Verbier — widely seen as the discipline’s Mecca. What could be more Swiss than an initiative uniting two of the country’s most iconic companies, combining their common goals for precision, innovation, quality, know-how and sustainability, around one of the nation’s greatest passions: skiing?
The collaboration led to the creation of three innovative, new products available this winter: Skis with a fine aluminium blade that uses the equivalent of 22 recycled capsules, ski poles (made of 100% recycled materials) that each contain 27% recycled capsules, and — even more surprising — ski boots each contain 15% recycled coffee grounds! It’s a beautiful example of the circular nature of coffee pods.
