How will new European Union regulations change coffee packaging?

The Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR ) is a European Union regulation to reduce packaging waste and help build a circular economy for packaging. The PPWR will soon apply throughout EU member states, as well as for packaging imported into the EU. This new legislation will:

• Set targets for recycling and reducing packaging waste
• Set deadlines for packaging to be designed for recycling (recycle-ready)
• Set deadlines for the use of Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) content in plastic packaging, as well as minimum percentages of PCR for different kinds of packaging
• Set “eco-modulation” criteria for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes that will reward brands for using more sustainable packaging.

In short, this means all packaging will need to be recyclable by design and in practice, and that brands will need to incorporate more post-consumer recycled (PCR) content into their plastic packaging.

The new regulations will impact coffee packaging, including single-serve coffee and tea units.

All coffee packaging will need to be designed to be recyclable by 2030 and coffee packaging must be recycled at scale by 2035. Furthermore, all contact-sensitive coffee packaging made from plastic material will require a minimum of 10% PCR content in any plastic part of the packaging by 2030.

What does the PPWR mean for aluminium coffee capsules?

Under the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), coffee and tea capsules will remain a recognized packaging solution, as long as they meet certain requirements.

Aluminium coffee capsules are popular due to their ability to preserve the freshness and flavor of coffee, while being easy to recycle. In fact, aluminium can be recycled repeatedly without losing its intrinsic material properties. Thanks to its ease of recycling, aluminium is recognized by many coffee capsule consumers as preferable to many other capsule materials.

What about compostable coffee capsules?

In general, the PPWR prioritizes recyclability over compostability, with only few exceptions.

For the coffee industry, permeable coffee (and tea) bags and capsules which are soft after use will be required to be compostable. EU member states will still be allowed to use capsules made of compostable plastics, if they have sufficient composting infrastructures to collect and process them.

What fees should brands expect in terms of EPR eco-modulation?

The PPWR requires that, as of 2030, EPR fees will be eco-modulated based on recyclability performance grades (the higher the grade, the lower the fee), and possibly on the basis of PCR content. In a nutshell, packaging that contains PCR content could have lower EPR fees. However, the PPWR does not establish the actual fees, which will continue to be set by each EU country.

What’s Amcor’s approach to coffee packaging?

At Amcor, we can help brands get ready to meet the new legislation. In 2018, we made a pledge to develop all our packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2025, and to significantly increase our use of recycled material. This makes us uniquely positioned to offer more sustainable packaging solutions for coffee to our customers across plastic, paper, and aluminium.

Our R&D team has developed AmPrima® mono-PE or mono-PP recycle-ready solutions, designed with recyclability in mind and matching the requirements of roasted coffee, ground or beans. AmPrima® has already helped several coffee brands (for example Löfbergs and Kjeldsberg) to make the transition to recyclable packaging while keeping their coffee as fresh as ever.

Not only is our AmPrima® range for coffee recycle-ready, through the use of advanced recycled materials, Amcor’s AmFiniti™ solutions offer food-contact grade packaging that incorporates recycled content.

Amcor is a major producer of Aluminium material for coffee capsule stamping and lids. With unsurpassed expertise, our R&D team and Field Technical Services team can help find the perfect solution for each customer, from development to industrialization.

In high-barrier paper solutions for coffee, we offer AmFiber™ Performance Paper, a solution that is recyclable in the paper stream* with an innovative high-barrier, ideal for instant coffee and dry beverages.