Advanced material company NatureWorks, in collaboration with IMA Coffee, has introduced a compostable coffee pod solution for the North American market.  

Made from renewable, biobased materials, this innovative product is compatible with Keurig brewers. 

The partnership, which began in April 2021, has led to a product that offers premium brewing performance and matches production speed of traditional coffee pods.  

The compostable coffee pod solution is the result of combining NatureWorks’ Ingeo PLA biopolymer with IMA Coffee's packaging technology expertise.  

For the rigid capsule body, NatureWorks was able to achieve production rates comparable to incumbent polypropylene (PP) capsules. 

The pod's design features a combination of highly crystalline and heat resistant Ingeo PLA grades with a refined single-stage thermoforming process. 

This helps in achieving production rates comparable to existing polypropylene capsules. 

The rigid capsule body is combined with a nonwoven filter, and a multi-layer top lidding, all made from Ingeo PLA.  

This uniform material use ensures consistent heat sealing and preserves the coffee's taste and aroma. 

IMA Coffee Lab's rigorous testing confirmed the new solution's compatibility and performance on the filter, rigid capsules and top lidding films. 

NatureWorks Single Serve Beverages strategic marketing manager Flavio Di Marcotullio said: “This solution removes the burden from brands and roasters who are looking for a compostable pod with a long shelf life that preserves the taste and aroma of the coffee. 

“These Ingeo pods provide a reliable brewing experience for consumers, can be produced at commercial speeds, and do not sacrifice expected performance for sustainability.” 

The partners presented their new solution at the AMI Single-Serve Capsules conference held in Boston, Massachusetts, last month.