Nespresso is discontinuing its paper-based compostable coffee capsules, ending a three-year pilot it launched in France and Switzerland in spring 2023. The company confirmed the decision in early October 2026, citing limited shelf life and an unsatisfactory overall product experience, based on customer feedback across the 14 European markets where the capsules were tested.
The capsules were no half-measure: 82% paper pulp with a proprietary biodegradable barrier lining, retro-compatible with Nespresso Original machines, and certified for both home and industrial composting by TÜV Austria. They were positioned as an additional sustainable choice alongside aluminum, not a replacement. Yet performance won out. Once opened, Nespresso advised using the paper capsules within four weeks; its aluminum capsules protect coffee for up to a year. The company says it is now "more convinced than ever" that aluminum best preserves flavor and aroma, and will focus future sustainability work on aluminum recycling instead.
Notably, Nespresso does not frame the exit as a sustainability defeat: a company-commissioned life-cycle analysis put the carbon footprint of a small espresso at 79 grams of CO²e for paper versus 81 grams for aluminum — effectively identical.
The lesson for compostable packaging is blunt. Certification is table stakes; shelf life and product experience decide whether a compostable format survives in the real world. A compostable label that shrinks usable life by an order of magnitude fails the only test that matters — keeping the product fresh until it is consumed. This is the bar Greenstar applies to its own compostable film and bag development: barrier performance and shelf life first, the compostability claim second.
Sources: Coffee Geography Magazine; Inside FMCG; Global Coffee Report; Le Temps; Swiss Observer.
Disclaimer: Product descriptions, specifications, and certification references in this article are provided for general information. Compostability claims (including ASTM D6400, EN 13432, and GB/T 19277) refer to industrial composting conditions; commercial composting facilities may not be available in all communities. Certifications apply only to the specific products listed in the relevant certificates. For current certification documentation, contact Greenstar@greenstarmaterial.com.