RPC (Rushden / UK; www.rpc-group.com) has developed a coffee capsule plastic material that can be industrially composted while offering long-term protection of its contents and being able to withstand the high pressures encountered in operation of coffee machines.

“Bebo B2nature”, from RPC Bebo, is made from a multilayer bioplastic film that incorporates an oxygen barrier to deliver a long ambient shelf-life and maintain the aroma and quality of the coffee in the capsule. The film is based on BASF's "Ecovio TA" material – a blend made of biodegradable copolyester "Ecoflex" and PLA. 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 capsules retain comparable strength and durability to those manufactured from conventional materials to ensure efficient filling and sealing, together with reliable operation in pressurised coffee machines, the company said. The global market share of plastic coffee capsules is steadily increasing. According to a recent study, it accounts for more than a fifth of all capsules (see Plasteurope.com of 05.10.2016).