The packaging and packaging waste law could forever change the way we drink coffee.
The packaging and packaging waste bill could change the way we drink coffee forever. Because some capsules are on the hot table for environmental reasons.
Coffee capsules are in danger of extinction in Europe. The European Commission proposed a ban, which went unnoticed by the general public. The draft of the new EU law on packaging and packaging waste states that coffee capsules can no longer be placed on the market unless they are compostable. This means that the current aluminum or plastic lids would no longer be allowed.
Such a ban would likely have consequences for coffee drinkers. In fact, market leader Nespresso and other suppliers are expected to completely refocus their capsule business on the world’s largest coffee market. The planned EU ban strikes a chord: aluminum or plastic coffee pods are considered harmful to the environment because they often end up in the trash. For example, in 2018, the German environmental organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe launched a campaign to ban coffee pods in Europe.
It is not yet clear whether the European Commission’s proposed ban will go through the legislative process in the EU Parliament and Council. The proposal is opposed, for example, by the professional association European Coffee Federation, of which Nestlé is a member and industry leader. The association claims that banning aluminum and plastic lids would do nothing from an environmental point of view. Furthermore, compostable capsules are not a silver bullet, as they also require the establishment of a recycling infrastructure. In some countries, such as Germany, compostable capsules cannot yet be disposed of in the green waste due to recycling issues.
Asked about it, Nestlé points out that the group has already invested more than 300 million francs in the recycling of aluminum capsules. Reaching the goal of a circular economy requires both recycling and composting. However, until now, the recycling rate of Nespresso capsules varies greatly from region to region. So it’s only 30 percent on average globally.
Are coffee pods to blame for their environmental impact? Scientists aren’t so sure about that. In a recent unpublished study conducted by researchers at the University of Quebec in Canada, they compared the climate impact of four coffee-brewing methods: filter coffee, French press, pod coffee, and instant coffee. . These researchers considered the entire life cycle of coffee, from planting to preparation and final disposal.
According to the study, regular filter coffee has the largest carbon footprint (expressed in CO2 equivalents) in Canada. Then comes the French press and the coffee pods. Instant coffee has the best results. So why do coffee pods get such a high rating? The key factor is the amount of ground coffee used and the energy required for preparation. The Canadian study puts filtered coffee last because this method requires the most ground coffee per cup and a lot of energy to heat and keep the water hot. This is not to say that coffee capsules are without problems. Aluminum or plastic capsules are difficult to recycle and are often thrown in the household rubbish and end up in landfills.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn