Ahlstrom has strengthened its position in Europe as a supplier of fully compostable infusion materials for single-serve coffee capsules together with two best-in-class coffee houses.

Ahlstrom’s solution is made from polylactic acid (PLA) and vegetable parchment materials, and the company will serve Caffe Vergnano in Italy and Cap Mundo in France. The patented Ahlstrom GreenCapsule top lid is fully compostable and biodegradable alternative to the common aluminum lid used in coffee capsules. It combines optimum extraction for a perfect espresso with low environmental footprint.

Roughly 10 billion single-serve coffee capsules are consumed in Europe annually, while currently less than 5% of the capsules are made from compostable and biodegradable materials. An increasing number of coffee houses are looking for compostable alternatives to differentiate their offer and to answer concerns about the environmental effects. The global market for single-serve coffee capsules has grown at a double-digit rate in the past two years.

The Ahlstrom GreenCapsule top lid won the “Best New Packaging in Coffee 2016” award at the World of Coffee exhibition in Dublin, Ireland. Ahlstrom produces PLA-based materials, which can be also used in tea bags and other food packaging solutions, at its plant in Chirnside, United Kingdom.