New England Coffee Co. Launches Compostable Coffee Capsules
New England Coffee Co. has launched a compostable coffee capsule developed by PurPod to reduce plastic waste and meet the needs of environmentally conscious coffee lovers. The PurPod100 capsule works with Keurig K-Cup style coffee machines and comes with a bio-based mesh filter that can be commercially composted without disassembly. The capsule is made of three bio-based materials: a cellulose film for the lid, a thermoformed polylactic acid (PLA)-based material for the mesh filter, and a proprietary resin made from coffee bean skins or husks for the brown ring.
The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certifies these capsules as meeting or exceeding the internationally recognized ASTM D6868 standard for commercial compostability, ensuring they decompose in the shortest possible time, are non-toxic to soil, and comply with chemical regulations. The Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA) field-tested these capsules at a food waste composting facility and certified them as quickly and completely degradable.
The mesh filter provides a fresher coffee flavor and richer aroma than traditional capsules, as brewing coffee with a plant filter is more like dripping through a filter. The company has already used PurPod100 capsules for all single-serve flavors, including Breakfast Blend, Blueberry Pie, Caramel Macchiato and Hazelnut Cream, with most products now available on shelves, and expects to fully transition by October 2024.
