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Nespresso: Coffee, Meet Sustainability

Nespresso: Coffee, Meet Sustainability

What can you do will all those Nespresso pods? A LOT

 

 

A few years ago, I would have said no to a free cup of coffee without any regret whatsoever. I was never one of those people that started the day off with caffeine—I was always (and still am) the kind of person that reaches out for a stick of nicotine instead. Nevertheless, the scale has tipped ever so slightly and it’s become part of my routine to drink a cup of joe throughout the morning.

via GIPHY

 

But as my officemates who prefer to live sustainable never fail to point out, buying cups of coffee damages the environment. They’ve gifted me with bamboo straws, metal straws and offered their own brews (or pods) for me to put in a reusable tumbler.

 

Thanks for keeping me grounded, friends.

 

RELATED: Not Your Ordinary Coffee Order: 5 Recipes You Can Make Right At Home

 

There’s a Nespresso machine on the table beside mine. There are several pods of different varieties stowed away in the pedestal that we all share. Everyone is generous—and coffee dependent—enough that the machine is often used and, naturally, the pods are always discarded. But there’s no room for guilt here.

 

For years now, Nespresso has been doing more than just supporting and training coffee farmers. Did you know that it’s been going the sustainable route in terms of its aluminum pods since 1991, too?

 

The idea is actually very simple; it’s the execution we’re really impressed with. The used capsules are collected and the coffee grounds are turned to compost that help grow vegetables, which are then redistributed to beneficiary organizations. Meanwhile, the aluminum (which is infinitely recyclable, btw!) is turned into Victorinox Swiss Army knives, Caran d’Ache pens and new capsules. But this is all international efforts; let’s go local.

 

Nespresso Philippines recently launched its own local recycling program. A portion of the used capsules are upcycled into art by artists at the Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation—and the proceeds provide livelihood for these artists and continue to fund NVC’s efforts. On the other hand, the shredded aluminum capsules are sent to a smelter in order to produce new aluminum products.

 

RELATED: A 2-Minute Foolproof Guide to Breakfast (for Dummies)

 

 

And with the possibility of recycling more than 92 percent of its used capsules, we really can’t help but support the project—and it’s easy to. All you need to do is bring your used capsules to the Nespresso Boutique at Power Plant Mall, the Nespresso Pop Up Stores at The Podium (until June 2019), One Bonifacio (starting July 2019) or the Rustan’s Department Stores in Makti, Shangri-la and Alabang.

 

Or, hey, if you make your purchases online, you can also arrange for a home pick-up instead. It’s a win-win situation we definitely want to get behind.

 

 

Art Alexandra Lara

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