Every year, around 60 billion coffee capsules are consumed worldwide. That represents more than 500,000 tons of waste. In Germany alone, over 20,000 tons of capsule waste end up in the trash each year. Most of these capsules are made of aluminum or plastic and are difficult to recycle.
Economic and Ecological Impacts
1. High environmental burden: aluminum capsules require a lot of energy for production and recycling, while plastic capsules take centuries to decompose.
2. Cost for consumers: capsule coffee costs on average 60–80 € per kilo, while high-quality coffee beans cost only 20–30 € per kilo.
3. Waste of resources: a single capsule contains only 5–7 g of coffee, which is inefficient compared to traditional espresso machines.
Sustainable Alternatives
Reusable capsules can save up to 80% of costs and reduce waste. Machines with reusable filters or portable coffee makers are more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Fewer single-use capsules mean less pollution and lower costs.