Portugal’s Grupo Nabeiro has introduced the first 100% organic and biodegradable coffee capsule for its Delta Q coffee brand.
The new capsule, developed by the group’s Diverge innovation centre together with external partners and national research centres, is made of BioPBS - a biological and vegetable-based material, consisting of sugar cane, cassava, and corn.
The capsule contains no plastics, micro-plastics or aluminium.
The brand's first blend with this 100% organic capsule, Delta Q eQo, will be launched in the second half of 2019.
A Certified Product
It is biodegradable for 90 days and has acquired sustainability certification from Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, and Organic.
The packaging, printed with organic inks, is made of FSC-certified, fully-recyclable cardboard.
Delta Q aims to switch to 100% organic coffee capsules by 2025, CEO Rui Miguel Nabeiro, told Jornal de Negocios.
Sustainability Strategy
The new addition is part of Grupo Nabeiro’s sustainability strategy that includes several commitments in the economic, social and environmental sectors.
As part of its environmental awareness initiatives, Delta has partnered with Belgian start-up NUM to transform coffee grounds into edible mushrooms.
The company also has in place a cooperation protocol with the Association of Azorean Coffee Producers (APAC) to provide support to around 500 coffee producers from the Azores over the next 15 years.
The support will be provided through all stages of production, preparation, and marketing of coffee.
It will include the introduction of new competitive and economically viable varieties of coffee, technical advice and marketing support, and preparation of a strategic plan for the entire coffee production chain.
The end goal for Grupo Nabeiro is to market 100% Portuguese coffee, branding it as the 'only coffee originating in Europe'.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
