Valgroup, promoting sustainability for major brands.
Internal structure
The technology ensures the shelf life of the capsule
Nestlé recently announced the launch of Nescafé Dolce Gusto NEO. Brazil is the first country to receive the new product and will produce 100% of the compostable capsules at the sustainable Nescafé Dolce Gusto factory.
In order for the capsules to reach consumers safely, Valgroup – one of the largest plastic packaging production, processing and recycling companies in the world – has developed a ready-to-recycle mono-material packaging with strict airtightness, ensuring a high barrier and safety for the product offered by Nestlé.
The development of the project took about three years and relied on the expertise of Valgroup, a global pioneer in the creation of safe, 100% recyclable packaging, in addition to a distinctive design that allows the packaging to be opened several times without breaking the barrier necessary to guarantee the product shelf life.
With a focus on sustainability, the two companies work on the development of innovative solutions and products to provide consumers with perfect preparation and high-quality beverages, which are unique differentiators in the segment, with safe and recyclable packaging.
For Valgroup, participating in this project reinforces its commitment to sustainability. The company has a robust ESG positioning, such as becoming a Net-Zero company by 2040, neutralizing carbon emissions, and recycling the equivalent of 100% of the amount of packaging produced, effectively contributing to the circular economy by removing plastic waste from the environment.
According to Márcio Kimura, Innovation and Technology Manager at Valgroup, the development of a robust packaging with unique materials provides consumers with more security for the consumption of the product.
“With this innovation, we are able to transport many more capsules to our consumers using less material. It is a technical packaging with unique materials to provide excellent sealing and, subsequently, extraordinary hermeticity and resins that provide high thermal resistance, so that we can simplify the structure without losing productivity,” said Márcio Kimura, Innovation and Technology Manager at Valgroup.
It is not by change that Brazil will be the first consumer market for the global launch. “A technology of this magnitude honors the quality of Brazilian coffee, taking the delivery of the product to a whole other level of flavor and experience,” explained Rachel Muller, Vice President of Coffee and Beverages at Nestlé Brazil.
The capsules are produced at the Triple Zero Factory, owned by Nescafé Dolce Gusto, in Montes Claros, in the state of Minas Gerais (MG). As the first Nestlé unit in the world to receive the Neutral Environmental Impact certification in all industrial stages, the factory uses only reused water, does not generate waste for landfills, and neutralizes 100% of its emissions (hence the Triple Zero name). For the manufacture of NEO capsules, the unit gained a new production line, which was automated based on Industry 4.0 concepts, with a highly skilled workforce.
The entire range of capsules has been on sale since early December of this year. Additionally, in e-commerce, it is possible to find packaging with a 30-capsule capacity and customization with the desired name, using the same technology and security provided by Valgroup.
