Flo combine compostability, oxygen barrier and improved taste in world-first coffee capsule

18 May 2018 --- Flo, a major European food packaging producer, has unveiled an industrially compostable coffee capsule created in partnership with NatureWorks, a leading company in the production of functional biopolymers. Flo’s Gea capsule is the result of a two-year joint development process that created a compostable capsule aimed to deliver on the high-performance requirements of the most demanding roasters.

"Gea represents a new generation of capsules, designed to meet the needs of coffee roasters and coffee lovers, but also to address environmental issues related to the management of waste,” says Erika Simonazzi, Marketing Director of Flo. As food packaging producers, we are very careful to study the right materials for their use, based on environmental requirements and the dictates of the new rules of the circular economy.”

Gea is entirely composed of Ingeo PLA, which is a renewably sourced polymer that is certified for industrial composting systems according to global standards such as EN-13432 (EU) and ASTM D6400-04 (US). The new capsule technology platform is fully approved for food contact and is now in final testing by TÜV Austria and the Italian Composting and Biogas Association (CIC) for compostability certification.

“A fully compostable capsule provides an elegant and simple system for delivering the valuable used coffee grounds to industrial compost. Thanks to the collaboration with Flo and their unique capability and dedication to developing improved packaging technologies, we are proud to support the commercialization of the first compostable coffee capsule made from 100 percent Ingeo,” said Steve Davies, Commercial Director, NatureWorks Performance Packaging. “The results demonstrate that delivering a superior taste and brewing experience to the consumer does not have to sacrifice sustainability.”

Compared to compostable capsules currently on the market, the new Gea capsules address market requests for material aging stability in an industrially compostable format. “Being able to count on a capsule that does not show signs of aging in a few months, but is shelf stable for years, is a huge value for coffee roasters,” explains Erika Simonazzi. “Roasters should be focused on their coffee, not the packaging it is packed in. NatureWorks’ unique analytical and engineering capabilities together with Flo’s know-how in thermoforming technology, were critical to developing this solution."

Gea capsules are also an effective barrier to oxygen, which protects the organoleptic qualities of the packaged coffee. The taste and aroma of the coffee are preserved, satisfying the needs of coffee roasters while ensuring an enhanced brewing experience for consumers.

Initially targeting the demanding requirements of high pressure, single-serve coffee systems, the Gea capsules have successfully passed the industrialization and filling tests at Flo's major partner coffee roasters and will be available on the market starting in October 2018.