The disposal of used coffee capsules – often made with a mixture of plastic and aluminium – causes problems for the environment.
The new capsules help by breaking down into simple raw materials in a domestic compost heap over a period of weeks. With the technology, users no longer need to peel off the foil, empty the coffee and sort the components into separate recycling bins.
The Eden Project capsules can be added to a composting bin, compost heap or food recycling bin.
The packaging for the capsules is made from card and printed using vegetable-based inks. The whole product is compostable and recyclable.
Tracey Smith, commercial manager for the Eden Project, said: “At Eden we are always searching for sustainable solutions and looking to reduce waste. These fully compostable capsules allow coffee lovers to enjoy delicious ethically-sourced coffees without creating additional plastic waste”.
The range consists of four organically grown coffees: Colombian, Guatemalan, Costa Rican and Italian espresso decaffeinated.
The capsules are compatible with Nespresso coffee machines. They are on sale in Waitrose supermarkets and will be available in the Eden shop.