Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1461678
16 STiR coffee and tea / Issue 2, 2022 (April / May) Sponsored Content nnounced last year in April, NatureWorks 1 and IMA Coffee 2 's joint strategic partnership accelorated on the first significant trial phase on K-Cup compat- ible compostable coffee pods. Compatibility testing on capsules, filter, and top lid films are being performed at IMA Coffee Lab with the precise aim to identify and achieve optimum material sealing parameters and limits as well as a suitable set up of IMA packaging machineries to handle the pods successfully. Tests are carried out under the supervision of IMA Coffee's r&d team and in close and constant co-operation with NatureWorks specialist. Dedicated tools are used to simulate filter and top lid films sealing phases and adjust parameters according to test- ing results. The sophisticated microleakage detection testing performed at IMA Coffee Lab gave more than encouraging and optimistic results allowing a significant step forward in the process that will proceed thoroughly towards the following coffee extraction testing phase. At NatureWorks, development of new single-stage thermoforming processes and capsule designs produces precise capsules that meet IMA's specifications for filling and sealing on their packaging machines. NatureWorks also constructed a custom data ac- quisition system for K-Cup compatible pods that is used to understand and benchmark how differing capsule designs perform under various brewing conditions. Initial filling tests at IMA Coffee Lab on K-Cup compatible compostable coffee pods based on NatureWorks' low-carbon Ingeo™ PLA biopolymers accelorated based on promising results. NatureWorks and IMA Accelerate Testing Phase of the Compostable Coffee Pod A K-Cup compatible compostable coffee pods based on NatureWorks' low-carbon Ingeo™ PLA biopolymers. Testing phase of the compostable coffee pod.