With single-serve drink systems continuing to grow in popularity, there is an increasing requirement to balance the demand for capsules with sustainable packaging solutions.

RPC Bebo has now developed an innovative coffee capsule material that is able to be industrially composted while still delivering long-term protection of the contents and withstanding the high-pressurized operation of coffee machines.

The new Bebo B2nature material features a special multilayer sheet, which incorporates an effective oxygen barrier to deliver a long ambient shelf-life and maintain the aroma and quality of the coffee in the capsule.

Within 12 weeks of industrial composting, only a minor amount of capsule material is left. That’s thanks to efficient decomposition helped in part by the coffee, which provides valuable nutrients to the compost and improves the nature of the soil.

As a result, the material can be certified for industrial composting, based on key European and US norms.

The compostable capsule also retains comparable strength and durability to ones made from conventional capsule materials, which ensure efficient filling and sealing as well as reliable performance in pressurized coffee machines.

“B2nature means consumers can benefit from the convenience of small portion packs by providing a sustainable means of disposing of them,” explains Matthias Michaelis, RPC Bebo’s business unit manager of thermoformed barrier packaging.

For more information: RPC Bebo Plastik GmbH Lloydstraße 6, D-27432 Bremervörde, Germany, Telephone: +49 (0) 4761 8600, e-Mail:  sales@rpc-bebo.com, www.rpc-beboplastik.de.