RPC develops ‘strong, industrially compostable’ coffee capsule

From: FoodBev

RPC has developed a coffee capsule material that is able to be industrially composted while still delivering long-term protection of the contents and withstanding the highly pressurised operation of coffee machines.

The new Bebo B2nature material features a special multilayer sheet that incorporates an effective oxygen barrier to deliver a long ambient shelf-life and maintain the aroma and quality of the coffee in the capsule. Within 12 weeks of industrial composting only a minor amount of capsule material is left thanks to efficient decomposition, which is assisted by the coffee itself, as it provides valuable nutrients to the compost and improves the nature of the soil. The material can therefore be certified for industrial composting, based on key European and US norms, RPC said.

The compostable capsule retains comparable strength and durability to one made from conventional capsule materials to ensure efficient filling and sealing, together with reliable operation in pressurised coffee machines.

It will meet continuing demand for coffee capsules, as single-serve drinks systems grow in popularity, as well as calls for brands to introduce more sustainable packaging solutions.

RPC Bebo’s business unit manager for thermoformed barrier packaging, Matthias Michaelis, said: “B2nature means consumers can benefit from the convenience of small portion packs by providing a sustainable means of disposing of them.

“The material also offers the high level of protection that means the freshness, aroma and quality of the coffee are not compromised.”

Yesterday, RPC Group agreed to acquire Letica Group, a US manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging and foodservice products, for up to $640 million.

Claims: 
The copyrights of articles in the website belong to authors. Please inform us if there is any violation of intellectual property and we will delete the articles immediately.