Solidarity rice after coffee

Recycling coffee capsules not only achieves sustainability, but also the production of food with solidarity.

The Arroz Solidario project is a long journey of the colorful Nespresso coffee capsules from the collection points of the company’s stores to the agricultural production of rice in the Ebro Delta.

For each capsule, the aluminum and used coffee grounds are separated, then this is converted into high-quality compost, which is used as fertilizer in the cultivation of Nespresso solidarity rice.

Aluminum, on the other hand, becomes a recycled element through different plants managed by the Swiss company for its subsequent remelting and reuse. There are currently more than 1.000 collection points to recycle Nespresso capsules through town halls and nespresso boutiques and coffee machine stores.

A great Nespresso Corporate Social Responsibility project that joins forces with the Montsià Rice Chamber, in Tarragona, which is in charge of fertilizing the land, sowing it and flooding it for cultivation. A total of 33 hectares are fertilized with capsules recycled by Nespresso customers, making a productive and circular economy possible.

The last link in this solidarity chain is the final result of obtaining a product that, once packed and packaged, is delivered to FESBAL, the federation that brings together 55 Food Banks throughout Spain.

Sustainability linked to coffee

The Solidarity Rice Project is part of another nespresso corporate project called “The positive cup” where sustainability is sought through the company’s value chain, seeking that each cup of coffee has a positive impact on society and the environment.

Commitments directly related to coffee range from obtaining a 100% sustainable raw material, to the distribution, supply, use and recycling of aluminum to offer resistance to climate change.

Among its main commitments, which stand out are those marked within the company’s viability plan, with a horizon until 2020, to meet the objectives of continuing to reduce the company’s carbon footprint by 10%.

In addition to being a totally carbon neutral company, offsetting the residual operational footprint within the supply chain, through a comprehensive agroforestry program.

Another important measure is recycling, which is already active in all the countries where Nespresso is present, with the aim of gradually increasing the capsule collection rate.

Another fundamental part of this objective is the production of all capsules with virgin aluminum.