COMPOSTABLE LID FOR SEALING A CAPSULE AND A CAPSULE SEALED BY THE LID

Abstract

Compostable lid for sealing a beverage capsule, composed of a multi-layer complex comprising at least: —a non-woven material containing fibres, at least 50% of which by weight are polylactic acid fibres (PLA), —a film containing a polyhydroxyalcanoate (PHA) polymer other than PLA.

Claims

1. Compostable lid for sealing a beverage capsule, composed of a multi-layer complex comprising at least: a non-woven material containing fibres, at least 50% of which by weight are polylactic acid fibres (PLA), a film containing a polyhydroxyalcanoate (PHA) polymer other than PLA, characterized in that the film has a thickness between 50 μm and 300 μm.

2. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the balance to 100% of fibres comprising the non-woven material is composed of fibres chosen from the group comprising fibres of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polybutane (PB), starch-based polymers, cellulose-based polymers, ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH)-based polymers, polybutanediolsuccinic acid (PBS), biosourced cellulose fibres chosen from the group comprising cotton, wood fibres and flax fibres.

3. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the fibres comprising the non-woven material are exclusively polylactic acid (PLA)-based fibres.

4. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that at least 40% of the fibres comprising the non-woven material are heat-sealable and advantageously have a melting point of less than 100° C.

5. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the non-woven material comprises at least 85%.

6. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the grammage of the non-woven material is between 5 and 100 g/m.sup.2.

7. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the non-woven material has an inner face and an outer face, the inner face having a melting point lower than that of the outer face, the inner face being intended to be placed facing the film comprising a polyhydroxyalcanoate (PHA) polymer.

8. Lid claim 1, characterized in that the PHA polymer represents between 80 and 98% by weight of the film.

9. Lid claim 1, characterized in that the film comprising a polyhydroxyalcanoate (PHA) polymer has a thickness between 100 and 200 μm.

10. Lid claim 1, characterized in that the film comprising a polyhydroxyalcanoate (PHA) polymer has a grammage between 150 and 500 g/m.sup.2.

11. Lid claim 1, characterized in that it is composed of a multi-layer complex, itself composed of: a non-woven material comprising fibres, of which at least 50% by weight is composed of polylactic acid (PLA)-based fibres, a film comprising a polyhydroxyalcanoate ((PHA) polymer other than PLA, the film having a thickness equal to or greater than 50 μm and equal to or less than 300 μm.

12. Lid claim 1, characterized in that it is compostable and meets the standard EN13432.

13. Beverage capsule, in particular coffee, having a lid according to claim 1.

14. Capsule according to claim 13, characterized in that the capsule itself is of PHA/PLA polymer.

15. Capsule according to claim 13, characterized in that the capsule is compostable and meets the standard EN13432.

16. Use of the capsule according to claim 13 in a machine dispensing individual beverages.

17. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the non-woven material comprises at least 90% by weight of fibers.

18. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the grammage of the non-woven material is between 10 and 30 g/m.sup.2.

19. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the PHA polymer represents between 90 and 95% by weight of the film.

20. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the film comprising a polyhydroxyalcanoate (PHA) polymer has a grammage between 20 and 300 g/m.sup.2.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0079] FIG. 1 illustrates the lid that is the object of this invention.

[0080] FIG. 2 shows a beverage capsule with a lid according to the invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0081] FIG. 1 shows a lid in the form of a multi-layer complex comprising successively: [0082] a film 1 comprising a PHBH polymer, the thickness of the film being equal to 200 μm; [0083] a non-woven material 2 comprising 100% by weight of PLA fibres.

[0084] The non-woven material 2 is formed exclusively from PLA fibres. The PLA fibres are of a single component. The non-woven material is manufactured by spunbond technology. The thickness of the non-woven material is 20 μm.

[0085] The non-woven material and the film are combined by hot calendering in such a way that the face of the non-woven material with the lowest melting point is facing the film. The lid shown in FIG. 1 is then ultrasonically heat sealed on to a capsule filled with ground coffee and composed essentially of compostable PHA-based polymers. The capsules thus obtained enable a flow of coffee within the time required by the manufacturers, and the coffee is accompanied by a froth of quality equivalent to that of current capsules. The capsule thus manufactured meets the compostability standard EN 13432.

[0086] FIG. 2 shows a capsule with a shape adapted to the lid of the invention. This type of shape is representative of capsules generally used and described, in a non-limited way, in documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,153,530 and 7,658,141 for Nespresso® capsules, U.S. Pat. No. 7,543,527, EP 2 690 035 B1, EP 1 659 909 B1 and/or EP 2 648 579 B1. As a result, the capsule of FIG. 2 may possibly have one or more of the characteristics described in these documents, in combination with the lid of this invention.

[0087] The capsule 3 generally has a body 4. The body 4 has a sidewall 5 and a bottom 6 defining a central volume 7. The sidewall 4 may be cylindrical, conical, truncated, etc. The sidewall has an edge 8 extending radially outwards from the longitudinal axis 9 of the lid 10 of the capsule 3. The edge 8 has a lower face 14 and an upper face 13.

[0088] The capsule may be used in two ways, i.e. when the lid 10 is at the top of the capsule while brewing and extraction are taking place (and conversely, when the lid (10) is at the base of the capsule during brewing and extraction). In certain applications, the bottom 6 of the capsule may also have a second lid in conformity with this invention, which can be pierced in the same way as the lid 10.

[0089] The capsule 3 has one or more means of filtering and/or dispensing the contents of the capsule. Although it is not shown, the filter material can partially or completely cover the upper face of the edge. In other embodiments also not shown, the filter material can be fixed to the bottom of the capsule 3 or onto the lower face 14 of the lid 10.

[0090] In practice, the body of the capsule 4 is manufactured and it is filled with an ingredient (for example ground coffee, tea leaves, a hot chocolate mixture, etc.). The lid 10 is then fixed to the capsule 3. Usually, the lower face 11 of the lid 10 is fixed to the upper face 12 of the edge 8 of the body of the capsule 4.

[0091] The lid 10 is heat sealed to the capsule 3 such that the non-woven material 2 is in contact with the capsule 3. In other embodiments, the lid 10 can be sealed to the capsule 3 with an adhesive, by laser welding, by ultrasonic welding or other known procedures.

[0092] Assessment of the Moisture Barrier

[0093] In this example, we compare the performance of the moisture barrier of the lid of the invention according to FIG. 1 with a lid as described in document FR 3 050 725. This second lid is composed of a real waxed paper support, a layer of adhesive and non-woven material in PLA (counter-example).

[0094] The rate of transmission of moisture through these two lids is measured at 23° C. at a relative humidity of 50%.

[0095] The rate of transmission of moisture through the lid according to the invention is 7 g/m.sup.2.Math.day+/−2 g/m.sup.2.Math.day. The rate of transmission of moisture through the lid according to FR 3 050 725 is 85 g/m.sup.2/day+/−2 g/m.sup.2/day.

[0096] Thus, the lid according to the invention affords a decrease in moisture transmission of nearly 92%.

[0097] Assessment of the Aroma Barrier

[0098] In this example, we reproduce the lid of FIG. 1.

[0099] Five capsules containing ground coffee were sealed with each of the lids (samples 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d, 200e and 200f).

[0100] The capsules thus obtained were placed in jars. The jars were then hermetically sealed. After a given period of time, the jars were opened and the odour released during opening was measured by olfactory sensing.

[0101] The first jar was opened after 15 days and sample 200a released no odour or a very weak odour. Fifteen days after opening the first jar, the second jar was opened. Sample 200b released no odour or a very weak odour. One month after opening the first jar, the third jar was opened. Sample 200c released a very weak odour. Two months after opening the first jar, the fourth jar was opened. Sample 200d released a very weak odour. Three months after opening the first jar, the fifth jar was opened. Sample 200e released a very weak odour.