TALKING SUSTAINABILITY, WITH NESPRESSO

Coffee is everyone’s favourite lifeline for an early morning, a quick catch-up or for a big day ahead.

But in terms of the environment, the coffee industry has come under fire for the ‘lack of environmental concern’ surrounding production and distribution methods. Coffee cups have quickly become the biggest social no no, closely followed by the use of coffee capsules.

Nespresso are always looking at new innovative solutions to pursue through their Nespresso Sustainability Innovation Fund. An obvious way that anyone can help save the planet is by recycling, EVERYTHING. Seriously, recycle everything. While many suggest that biodegradable capsules are better for the planet, Nespresso chooses to use aluminium to encapsulate their coffee, as it is the one material that has been tried and tested to lock in the aromas and taste. As a bonus, it also happens to be an infinitely recyclable material.

So. Knowing now that Nespresso’s coffee pods are 100% recyclable, there are four different ways in Australia to do so. You can take your used pods to the nearest Nespresso Boutique, or take them to a partner florist or gardening centre collection point. Use bulk collection boxes on behalf of your workplace, or fill your Nespresso Australia Post satchel and return them via post. Easy, right?

There's more you can do. Environmentalists worldwide are aiming to reduce the 2.7 million paper coffee cups that are thrown out each day. This is where the era of the reusable coffee cup was born. There are now cups made of stainless steel, plastic, glass and even food grade silicone that can be used to enjoy your morning brew. Over and over again! Hence, the beauty of recycling.

In addition to finding new ways to make their products eco-friendly, Nespresso are also constantly releasing new flavours.

There are now two new limited edition Nespresso pods. These include the Robusta Uganda which is made from 100% Robusta beans strongly roasted to develop rich cacao notes resulting in a surprisingly sweet and intense coffee. In contrast, the Arabica Ethiopia Harrar which is created from 100% Arabica beans with notes of ripe fruits and fresh flowers.

Looking out for the Rainforest Alliance and other ethical- sourcing certifications is another important part of eco-friendly coffee consumption. Nespresso also has their own AAA sustainable Quality Program that partners with over 400 agronomists and 75,000 farmers to provide knowledge and skills that help local farmers learn more about their product and how they can farm high-quality coffee that is friendly to the environment and to their livelihoods.

Keeping all this in mind, responsible coffee consumption can result in becoming not only your lifeline, but the environment’s too. Something to think about over your next morning cuppa.