Dolce Gusto focuses on ecology with Capsogusto and Terracycle

The majority of the 80% of French coffee enthusiasts have a coffee machine at home that works with individual pods or pods. However, these have a significant impact on the environment. Fortunately, some of their producing brands are increasingly committed to reducing this impact. Dolce Gusto and ecology have never worked well together. 

Why do we need a Dolce Gusto pod?

No need to leave the house to enjoy a good coffee nowadays. The advent of household machines has indeed contributed to the wide accessibility of this pleasure. However, there is one drawback: traditional pods are harmful to the environment because they are difficult to recycle. Fortunately, there is an alternative: the association between the Dolce Gusto pod and ecology. 

Traditional pods and their harmful effects on the environment

The possibility of making a good coffee at home with the Nespresso and Tassimo pods, among others, results in the production of a significant amount of waste. In 2011, for example, there were 40,000 tonnes of aluminium waste from the use of Nespresso pods. But why do brands continue to use this material? Because of its hermeticity, aluminium helps to better preserve the freshness, taste and aromas of coffee. 

But aluminium is a recyclable material, so why does it represent a large amount of waste on the planet? Because it is simply a material that is difficult to recycle. An eddy current machine is indeed necessary for its sorting. Afterwards, it is necessary for the aluminium to go through cleaning, melting and transformation phases in 4 European countries to finish its recycling. This represents a significant cost and significant energy expenditure.

Faced with this problem, the use of eco-friendly nespresso pods such as Capsogusto is increasingly encouraged.

Ecological values privileged with Dolce Gusto

In 2014 the marriage between Dolce Gusto and ecology took place. It is indeed the year of the launch of this brand's refillable pod. From the start of its distribution, this has enabled the Nestlé subsidiary to avoid dumping no less than 2 500 tonnes of waste on the planet. And to further pursue its global objective, the brand continues to improve its international presence.

The pod in question, Capsigusto, is dedicated to long-term use. It is a refillable stainless steel pod that allows users to prepare as many coffees as they want without producing plastic waste. This differentiates it from the consumable refillable pods that are flooding the market and, especially disposable pods, which no longer deserve the detour for several reasons.

And as for its plastic caps, the brand has integrated the TerraCycle program, which makes it easier to recycle them. We will discuss this in one of the following sections of this article, but first of all, it is necessary to know which pods are compatible with the Dolce Gusto refillable pod. 

Which pods are compatible with Dolce Gusto?

Dolce Gusto 's commitment to ecology has led a number of brands to create pods compatible with its coffee machines. And the latter have not been forgotten in the process of the Nestlé subsidiary's commitment to the preservation of the planet with, in particular, their energy-saving function which is activated after only 5 minutes of use. Among the pods compatible with the brand's espresso machines are :

• Deca pods from Café Launay, a tasty combination of Brazilian Arabica and fruity Colombian Arabica fragrances.
• Caffè Bonini's soluble milk pods Latte
• The pods Café Royal 100% Arabica of the brand Caffé Grande
• The pods combining traditional coffee and Ginseng of the Caffè Bonini brand.
• Cortado pods are the perfect combination of coffee and milk from the Caffè Bonini brand.
• The 100% Arabica Lungo pods from Brazil and Colombia from Café Launay.

Where to throw Dolce Gusto coffee pods?

Dolce Gusto 's commitment to ecology also manifests itself through its association with TerraCycle. Thanks to this, consumers of its products can easily participate in the recycling of its pods through a national network of collection points.

Places to dump the pods?

There are two possibilities for people who want to get involved in this program. First, there is the dumping of used pods at a public collection point that is part of the TerraCycle sites. If you want to find one near you, simply consult the interactive map on the online portal of the waste recycling company.

There is also nothing to prevent you from creating your own collection point. This possibility is open to everyone: individuals, associations, public institutions, shops, private schools, etc. In this case, you will take care of organising the collection and dispatch of the parcels. Each time the parcels arrive at their destination, you will receive TerraCycle points.

What do we do with used drink pods?

A mechanical separation of their materials will take place for the pods when they arrive at their destination. The coffee grounds will then be composted. The plastic materials, for their part, will go through a process of grinding, sorting, washing and extruding into granules or plastic injection before being reused for the production of urban benches, plant bins or children's play aids. It can also be used as a raw material.

How do I use the Dolce Gusto rechargeable pod?

If you opt for the other fruit of the marriage between Dolce Gusto and ecology, the Capsogusto, you won't need to go through the recycling phase. This product is in fact entirely reusable. To use it, start by sliding the silicone tubing at the bottom of the drawer of your coffee machine. Continue dosing your coffee before putting the Capsogusto in the drawer of the machine. Afterwards, all you will have to do is place the silicone plug to close the pod, insert the drawer of the machine, pour your coffee and wait.

What coffee to put in a refillable pod?

By choosing the Capsogusto, you should already know that you will not be able to use just any coffee. For a refillable pod, only full-bodied coffees are suitable. Moreover, the pod cannot hold more than 5g of coffee. So if you want your drink to be stronger, adding more will no longer be part of your option.  

As far as grinding is concerned, the ideal is that it should be fine to medium. You will be unable to watch your coffee pass through the filter of your pod if it is finer. On the other hand, a greater thickness will result in coffees with a lightness similar to that of filter coffees.

The marriage of Dolce Gusto and ecology has gone beyond the project phase since 2014. It is a reality that has already allowed the brand to avoid thousands of tons of waste for the planet. The marriage has manifested itself above all through the launch of Capsogusto and the association with a leading player in the world of recycling: Terracycle.