Nestlé Professional has introduced a new material made from used coffee grounds and plastic waste, which is now being used in its Nescafé self-serve furniture units.

The boards are manufactured from 70% plastic waste generated at Nestlé’s Tutbury factory and 30% used Nestlé coffee grounds. Developed in partnership with UK-based manufacturer Regency, the 'Nestlé Recycled Plastic Coffee Board' replaces earlier designs made from MDF, virgin plastics and chipboard.

The company said the new material supports its packaging and waste reduction commitments while lowering emissions. According to a 2018 Life Cycle Assessment by Quantis for Regency, panels made from recycled content generated 70% fewer carbon emissions than previous MFC and MDF panels when reused five times.

The new design can also be refurbished and reused up to five times, reinforcing a closed-loop approach. Around 200 units using both the 90% recycled 'Regency Plastic Board' and the fully Nestlé-sourced boards have so far been implemented.

In addition to material changes, Nestlé has simplified its supply chain for the units, reducing distribution stages from five to one and cutting lead times from up to 12 weeks to ten days. Smaller design updates include condiment holders made from coffee grounds instead of plastic.