Metropolis Coffee Co Partners With Compostable Solutions And Jura-Tech To Produce Affordable, Compostable Coffee Pods – CoffeeTalk

Metropolis Coffee Co., a Chicago-based coffee manufacturer, has partnered with Compostable Solutions and Jura-Tech to produce compostable espresso capsules compatible with Nespresso Original Line machines. The Chicago-based coffee roaster supplies its goods to restaurants, hotels, and other institutions and is considered the first in the U.S. to use fully compostable pods and lidding. The venture began five years ago when a hotel chain asked Metropolis president Tony Dreyfuss if his company could produce compostable Nespresso pods for its European operations. Nespresso was selling an estimated 14 billion capsules each year, according to The Guardian.

Dreyfuss and Co. got right to work on the request, but encountered logistical challenges and discovered that “the price was astronomical.” However, Dreyfuss believed in the concept and suspected a compostable Nespresso capsule would do well in the North American market, including the U.S. The team purchased a four-lane filling/lidding machine from IMA and used Compostable Solutions as their capsule supplier. Metropolis uses Jura-Tech’s three-layer adhesive lamination (made from paper, cellulose, or non-woven materials) for its Nespresso-compatible capsules’ lidding.

In the years since, Nespresso has become increasingly popular, and that could directly benefit the domestic market. While Compostable Solutions CEO Frank Schuster didn’t provide details about the number of jobs that might be created or where they’d be, he told Packaging World that his team may begin manufacturing capsules in North America.

North America lacks a recognized home compostability certification like Germany’s DIN CERTCO and Austria’s TÜV. However, the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) offers third-party verification for companies making commercial compostability claims on their products and packaging. Metropolis’ compostable pods have received its seal of approval, meaning consumers can drop their used pods at a commercial composting facility, helping to reduce landfill waste and the generation of methane, a potent gas that traps heat in Earth’s atmosphere.

The coffee roaster has begun rolling out 10-packs of its commercially compostable pods at major retailers such as Target, Whole Foods, and Costco, selling for $7 to $9. Dreyfuss said it has been a wild ride, but he is heavily invested into this and committed to doing it right.

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