Flo Presents Gea, a New Generation of Coffee Capsules Developed with NatureWorks

May 17, 2018

The new capsule is the first in the world that combines compostability,
oxygen barrier, and an improved taste and aroma experience for the
consumer.

PARMA, Italy & MINNETONKA, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Flo,
a major European food packaging producer, is proud to introduce Gea, an
industrially compostable coffee capsule created in partnership with NatureWorks,
a leading company in the production of functional biopolymers. FloÔÇÖs Gea
capsule is the result of a two-year joint development process that
created a compostable capsule aimed to deliver on the high-performance
requirements of the most demanding roasters.

"Gea represents a new generation of capsules, designed to meet the needs
of coffee roasters and coffee lovers, but also to address environmental
issues related to the management of waste,ÔÇØ says Erika Simonazzi,
marketing director of Flo. ÔÇ£As food packaging producers, we are very
careful to study the right materials for their use, based on
environmental requirements and the dictates of the new rules of the
circular economy.ÔÇØ

Gea is entirely composed of IngeoÔäó PLA, which is a renewably sourced
polymer that is certified for industrial composting systems according to
global standards such as EN-13432 (EU) and ASTM D6400-04 (USA). The new
capsule technology platform is fully approved for food contact and is
now in final testing by T├£V Austria and the Italian Composting and
Biogas Association (CIC) for compostability certification.

ÔÇ£A fully compostable capsule provides an elegant and simple system for
delivering the valuable used coffee grounds to industrial compost,ÔÇØ said
Steve Davies, commercial director, NatureWorks Performance Packaging.
ÔÇ£Thanks to the collaboration with Flo and their unique capability and
dedication to developing improved packaging technologies, we are proud
to support the commercialization of the first compostable coffee capsule
made from 100% Ingeo. The results demonstrate that delivering a superior
taste and brewing experience to the consumer does not have to sacrifice
sustainability.ÔÇØ

Compared to compostable capsules currently on the market, the new Gea
capsules address market requests for material ageing stability in an
industrially compostable format. ÔÇ£Being able to count on a capsule that
does not show signs of ageing in a few months, but is shelf stable for
years, is a huge value for coffee roasters,ÔÇØ explains Erika Simonazzi.
ÔÇ£Roasters should be focused on their coffee, not the packaging it is
packed in. NatureWorksÔÇÖ unique analytical and engineering capabilities
together with FloÔÇÖs know-how in thermoforming technology, were critical
to developing this solution."

Gea capsules also are an excellent barrier to oxygen, which protects the
organoleptic qualities of the packaged coffee. The taste and aroma of
the coffee are preserved, satisfying the needs of coffee roasters while
ensuring an enhanced brewing experience for consumers.

Initially targeting the demanding requirements of high pressure, single
serve coffee systems, the Gea capsules have successfully passed the
industrialization and filling tests at Flo's major partner coffee
roasters and will be available on the market starting in October 2018.

To learn more about the technology behind the new Gea coffee capsules,
join Flo for their presentation at Innovation
Takes Root, NatureWorksÔÇÖ Advanced Biomaterials Forum, in San Diego,
California, September 2018.

About Flo S.p.A.
Flo is a historic brand in the production
of food packaging and cups for automatic distribution. The company,
based in Fontanellato (Parma – Italy), was founded in 1973 by Antonio
Simonazzi. While maintaining a strong link with the territory it belongs
to, Flo is today one of the major European players in the sector.

Over the years it has invested beyond the Alps by transferring the
typically Italian quality culture to the production and commercial sites
it has developed in Europe. The head office has 270 employees, with an
additional 80 at its Ruiz production plant in France, the strategic
heart of the Flo market in North and Central Europe. In partnership with
an Italian player in the sector, Flo is the owner of Nupik, Isap
packaging, Benders UK and I & D, important companies in the sector that
allow to complete the product range and expand the coverage of the
international market.

Today, more than forty years after its birth, Flo is a well-recognized,
and respected multinational company in the retail, vending, hotel,
restaurant, and caf├® sectors. Despite being a family-owned business, Flo
has achieved considerable growth via their dedication to developing
innovative, efficient and sustainable solutions.

About NatureWorks
NatureWorks is an advanced materials
company offering a broad portfolio of renewably sourced polymers and
chemicals to the packaging, polymers, fibers, and chemicals markets.
With performance and economics that compete with oil-based plastics and
fibers, naturally advanced IngeoÔäó polymers are valued for their unique
functional properties and used in products from coffee capsules and
electronics to diapers and wipes. Creating performance through
chemistry, VercetÔäó lactide-based solutions help innovators realize
significant, measurable performance and cost advantages in products such
as CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers), toners, and
surfactants. NatureWorks is jointly owned by Thailand's largest ASEAN
leading integrated petrochemical and refining company, PTT Global
Chemical, and Cargill, which provides food, agriculture, financial and
industrial products and services to the world. www.natureworksllc.com;
follow NatureWorks on Twitter @natureworks