Give a new life to your capsules

Sustainability is part of illy’s DNA: it is one of the corporate pillars the company is built on. illycaffè’s strategies are based on a sustainable business model. This offers the company a competitive advantage and integrates economic and corporate goals with environmental and social concerns. The company pursues sustainability by sharing the value it generates (economic sustainability), personal growth (social sustainability), and respect for the ecosystem (environmental sustainability). In order to respect the environment, we are committed to managing the waste from Iperespresso and Nespresso® Compatible capsules, turning them into reusable materials to manufacture new products. This is why illycaffè has launched the project to collect and recycle coffee capsule waste.

To protect the environment and reduce the impact of the polypropylene and aluminium that Iperespresso and the Nespresso® compatible capsules are made of, illycaffè has partnered with TerraCycle®, an international leader in hard-to-recycle waste recycling. TerraCycle® collects the capsules, separates out the coffee and recycles the plastic and aluminium to convert them into new materials. The coffee waste is then sent to an industrial composting plant.

While almost all waste is potentially recyclable, it is not always cost-effective to do so with traditional collection methods. This is why many local waste collections don’t accept certain materials – and this is where TerraCycle® comes in. illy coffee capsules, for example, are made from a complex mix of materials which require specific equipment and techniques to recycle them. This makes the recycling process itself very expensive compared to the value of the end product. This is why waste such as illy coffee capsules cannot be recycled by your local waste service: it simply doesn't make economic sense.

To solve this issue and make the economics work, TerraCycle® works in partnership with brand sponsors like illy, who cover these costs so that they can offer free nationwide recycling programmes to the public. 

All illy Iperespresso capsules and illy Nespresso® compatible capsules can be recycled as part of the illy recycling solution in partnership with TerraCycle®. illy capsules and packaging are made from several different materials in order to ensure the taste and aroma of our products are perfectly preserved over time. illy is committed to sustainability, and is working with TerraCycle® to collect and recycle your Iperespresso capsules. Once they have been collected, TerraCycle® melts down the Iperespresso capsules and packaging to transform them into plastic granules. These granules can then be used to manufacture new recycled plastic items. The aluminium from the illy Nespresso® compatible capsules is separated from the coffee and then melted down to make ingots that can be used for new products. Once they have been separated out, the coffee grounds are composted.

To send your used illy coffee capsules to TerraCycle®, we recommend you reuse the box the capsules were delivered in to collect your waste (maximum size 60 cm x 60 cm x 50 cm). Once you have collected the minimum weight, tape the box up properly. Request your shipping label from the illy website, download and print the label from your email inbox and stick it to the parcel.

Note that each label is unique and can only be used once for a single parcel. If you wish to send subsequent parcels, you will need to download a new label.

If the capsules are wet or dirty, you should pack them in a plastic bag and tie it shut first before putting them in the box, to stop the box getting damaged if they leak.

UK only: Order a pick-up by calling UPS on 03457 877 877, or arrange a pick-up and select a pick up location through the UPS website by clicking here: https://wwwapps.ups.com/pickup/schedule?loc=en_GB#/

You can also take your parcel to your nearest UPS drop-off point, which you can find here: https://www.ups.com/dropoff/?loc=en_GB

We want to limit the use of transport to reduce environmental impact. Sending larger quantities at the same time is better for the environment. This is why we ask you to send a minimum weight of 2 kg, which is approximately 200 capsules.

The capsules do not need to be clean in order to be recycled.

However, before you send us your capsules try and make sure they do not contain any liquid. Wait until the capsules are cold, then shake or squeeze them over the sink for about 10 seconds to get any remaining liquid out.

If your recycled capsules are wet or dirty, we recommend that you put them in a bag and seal it properly before packing it in the box, so the box does not get damaged by any leaks.

All illycaffè customers who are registered on www.illy.com.