Aroma System S.r.l.
Aroma System spun out of a family business that combines cutting-edge technology with a passion for good coffee. In 1988, we introduced our first degassing valve to restore the pressure inside sealed bags of recently roasted grains and have since been innovating machinery to keep each cup of brew flavourful and environmentally sustainable.
Larger with Life
Between 2015-2018, the EU LIFE Programme invested €1.5 million in the €2.5 million PLA4COFFEE project to tackle the 70 000 tonnes of waste generated each year by discarded coffee capsules in Europe. Because of challenges recycling the plastic-aluminium compounds in conventional coffee capsules, Aroma System engineered a compostable alternative made of polyactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic extracted from renewable sources such as starch and sugar.
EU added value
- Reduce plastic pollution in ecosystems
- CO2 emissions per capsule down 40%
- Swap chemical fertilisers for compost
Prospects
- Save 15 000 tonnes of oil a year
- Replace plastics in other products
- Drive bio-plastic production in Europe
Achievements
- Formulated a safe and sturdy compostable plastic that remains stable at over 110° C
- Opened an industrial plant that can produce 120 kilogrammes of bioplastic an hour
- Manufactured over 400 compostable coffee capsules per minute in a choice of 6 colours
- Reduced costs to under €0.025 for each compostable coffee capsule
- Filed some 200 patents and launched collaborations with the University of Rome Tor Vergata
Policy support
- Favour composting over landfilling as set out in the EU Waste Framework Directive
- Substitute plastics with renewable materials in line with the European bioeconomy strategy
- Encourage industrial innovation following the European entrepreneurship action plan
- Project locations
- Italy
- Project website
- PLA4COFFEE project