A small daily gesture, such as returning used coffee capsules, can transform into concrete help for those in difficulty. It is the story of the circular economy project “From Chicco to Chicco” Of Nespressoactive in Italy since 2011, which thanks to the recycling of aluminum capsules allows the regeneration of two precious materials: aluminum, which can be reborn endlessly, and spent coffee, transformed into compost to grow rice.
This year, in Lombardythe project made it possible to donate over 470 quintals of rice, equivalent to more than 520,000 dishes distributed through the Food Bank to approximately 210,000 people in difficulty. A result made possible thanks to the collection of over 660 tons of spent capsulesrecovered between Nespresso Boutiques and ecological islands that are partners of the project. From these, almost 400 tons of coffee were obtained, transformed into compost, and 35 tons of aluminum, ready to become new objects.
How does the project work? The capsules are collected and taken to specialized plants, where coffee and aluminum are separated. Aluminum is sent to smelters to be made into pens, bicycles, bookmarks and other items. The spent coffee, however, becomes natural compost, used for the cultivation of rice which is subsequently bought back by Nespresso and donated through the Food Bank and the initiatives of the Progetto Arca Foundation.
«A simple gesture such as returning used capsules can generate a concrete impact on the territory and on people», he explains Matteo Di PoceSustainability Specialist at Nespresso Italiana, «circular economy and solidarity can work together, transforming waste materials into precious resources for communities and the environment».
Anna Clerici, Head of Communication and Fundraising of the Lombardy Food Bank, adds: «Thanks to this project we can distribute a healthy food such as rice, which is particularly difficult to find today, and offer concrete attention to the most fragile people. It is an example of a virtuous partnership between profit and non-profit.”
At a national level, the numbers speak for themselves: since 2011, over 13,500 tons of spent capsules have been recovered, regenerated more than 800 tons of aluminum, transformed almost 8,000 tons of coffee into compost and generated over 7,700 quintals of rice, equivalent to more than 8 million dishes distributed throughout Italy. In 2025 alone, more than 1,300,000 plates of rice were donated.
The “From Chicco to Chicco” project is part of the “Nespresso for Italy” program, which unites environmental sustainability and social commitment in the area, demonstrating how small daily gestures can have a large and concrete impact on people’s lives.
