SABIC’s Certified Renewable PP Powers New Eco‑Friendly Coffee Capsules

Germany’s Delica AG has launched a new line of sustainable coffee capsules for its proprietary Delizio machines, using SABIC’s Trucircle‑certified renewable polymers. The capsules are made from second‑generation polypropylene (PP) resins derived from biobased tall oil – a waste by‑product of the paper industry that does not compete with food crops and is free of palm oil and animal feed.

The capsules debuted in April 2021, replacing fossil‑based virgin PP. SABIC supplies its certified renewable PP to ALMA Packaging AG, which converts the material into a thermo‑formable plastic film. Delica then fills, seals, and distributes the capsules through Migros, Switzerland’s largest retail chain.

"A life‑cycle study by Carbotech demonstrates that swapping the former fossil‑based PP for tall‑oil‑derived renewable PP cuts our environmental footprint by about 40% per capsule," says Ralf van den Bragt, head of coffee at Delica AG. The study shows a certified renewable content of at least 65%.

Philipp Broch, managing director of ALMA Packaging AG, adds, "Our bio‑PP films with SABIC’s renewable polymers deliver the same processing performance as conventional PP while achieving high CO₂ savings. The films can contain up to 95% renewable feedstock, verified by mass‑balance accounting and certified under ISCC PLUS.”

The renewable polymers’ sustainability is validated through a mass‑balance approach under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS). This framework assigns renewable content from feedstock to finished product, enabling brands like Migros to quantify and communicate the eco‑benefits of their packaging. ISCC PLUS accreditation ensures transparent, traceable supply‑chain accounting.

A cradle‑to‑gate life‑cycle analysis, compliant with ISO 14040 and independently reviewed, confirms that each ton of SABIC’s biobased PP and PE reduces CO₂ emissions by roughly 4 kg versus fossil‑based alternatives, while cutting fossil depletion by up to 80 %.

Abdullah Al‑Otaibi, general manager of engineering thermoplastics & market solutions for petrochemicals at SABIC, notes, "Fossil depletion and waste are pressing global challenges that demand a fundamental shift in the plastics economy. With our Trucircle initiative, we empower converters, designers, and brand owners to adopt high‑quality recycled, circular, or renewable polymers and achieve a sustainable edge.”