Feds invest $1M in coffee pods made from wood fibre

The federal government is investing $1 million in NEXE Innovations (formerly GCUP Technology Corporation) to begin phase 2 of their project scaling-up production of a plant-based, compostable single-use coffee pod made from bioplastic wood fibre.

In Phase 1 of the project, the product was developed. Phase 2 will see the company scale-up the manufacturing of these pods, which are compatible with Nespresso, and work to improve the compatibility of the bioplastic derived from wood fibre for commercialization.

The investment supports the federal government’s commitment to banning single-use plastics and efforts to develop alternatives. The funds are part of the second phase of a Bioplastics Challenge, which looks to support small businesses turn forest-based residues into sustainable, domestic plastic material.

“We are grateful to the Government of Canada for this award, which reflects its commitment to nurturing innovative, Canadian-made solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems. At NEXE, we have developed and validated sustainable plant-based materials that are better for the environment without compromising on the needs of the consumer. We look forward to bringing them to market with the support of Innovative Solutions Canada,” said Zachary Hudson, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of NEXE Innovations, in a statement.