Nestlé Spain is investing €15 million in its Girona factory to introduce recyclable packaging for Nescafé soluble coffee and Nescafé Dolce Gusto capsules.

The facility is adding two new packaging lines that will reduce virgin plastic use and improve energy efficiency through automation. Construction is set to be completed by the end of the year.

The investment will enable local production of Nescafé's refill bags, made from recyclable material. These bags, launched two years ago, offer the same product quality in a more sustainable format and can be used to refill Nescafé's glass jars.

Nestlé said that they also use at least 97% less packaging weight than glass jars. By late 2025, the factory will produce refill bags in sizes from 75g to 275g, for both Nescafé Classic and its decaffeinated variant.

In addition, Nestlé is building a high-speed production line for Nescafé single-serve sachets, which will now be packaged in recyclable mono-material. This change is expected to reduce virgin plastic use by 60 tonnes annually. The new line will produce 1,200 sachets per minute for both the retail and hospitality sectors.

The Girona plant, in operation since 1968, employs over 900 people and exports 75% of its Nescafé Dolce Gusto capsule production and 84% of its soluble coffee to 56 countries. The factory operates a biomass boiler using coffee grounds for steam generation and is constructing a second boiler to process over 52,000 tonnes of coffee grounds annually, set to be operational in 2025.

Arnau Pi, director of the Girona factory, said: "The implementation of these new packaging lines will allow us to use recyclable materials, which is a significant step towards reducing virgin plastics and promoting a circular economy. At Nestlé, we believe that sustainable food production is essential for the future, and we are committed to leading the way in this transformation."Nestle is investing £15m in its Girona site to introduce recyclable packaging