Nespresso Brews Up Chic Bicycle Crafted From Recycled Coffee Capsules
Image via Vélosophy
Cool beans. Nespresso is riding the extra mile when it comes to where its used capsules end up—on wheels, and around the corner.
The Nestlé-owned company has banded together with Swedish bicycle brand Vélosophy to upcycle old coffee pods into bike parts. The resulting vehicle, called ‘RE:CYCLE’, has a frame that’s made up of 95% recycled aluminum, with 20% of it being discarded Nespresso capsules.
If this idea rings a bell (literally) to you, that’s because this is the second edition of the RE:CYCLE bike. The first, launched in 2019, had a purple frame that harked back to Nespresso’s Arpeggio blend.
The successor, on the other hand, is decked out in a chic light blue that references Nespresso’s Ice Leggero pods. The hue, officially and aptly called ‘California Dream Blue’, is a natural pairing for the bicycle’s tan detailing and steam-bended oak basket.
As another nod to the pod, the bell assumes the shape of the Vertuo capsule.
Java lovers will take delight in the fact that this bicycle is truly built for coffee on the go, as the basket comes with two cup holders to safely transport your coffee around.
Nespresso digresses that although its capsules are already constructed from recyclable aluminum, “they are not accepted in public recycling schemes in every country.” As such, it is currently working with local authorities and other partners to upgrade public recycling infrastructure. In the meantime, it’s also turning the pods into other objects, like this bicycle and a Hublot watch.
The most invigorating part about this blend between the two brands is that, for every RE:CYCLE bike that is manufactured, Vélosophy will donate a bicycle to a schoolgirl in a less-developed country via the World Bicycle Relief charity. 500 units will be available for purchase, which means 500 bikes could be gifted to a student in need.
“Coffee and bicycles are an unexpected blend, but at Nespresso, we love to surprise and delight. That’s what RE:CYCLE is all about; blending sustainability and style in order to bring to life the potential of circularity,” says Jerome Perez, Head of Sustainability at Nespresso. “By using recycled Nespresso capsules to make this beautiful bike, our goal is to encourage people to recycle.”
Perez adds: “But what I’m most proud of is Vélosophy’s one-for-one promise, which is empowering girls to succeed through providing access to transportation with a bicycle.”
The coffee-pod bikes will go on sale at Vélosophy at the end of July, with a standard option going for €1,590 (US$1,700) and an electric bike version retailing for €2,795 (US$2,988).
