Disposable biodegradable beverage package

Abstract

A biodegradable pod or package designed to work in single serve beverage machines. The package of the present invention includes a base, a filter, and a top, all of which are biodegradable. In some embodiments, the base and filter are formed from a biodegradable polymeric material such as polylactic acid (PLA); preferably, both the base and the filter are formed from PLA or include a coating of PLA thereon (for example, paper with a PLA coating). The top can be formed from a cellulosic material or other plant-based material. The package utilizes a unique bond between the three components so as to withstand the temperature and pressures to which the pod is exposed by the beverage machine. The bond is formed by melted or softened biodegradable polymeric material from the base and the filter that also adheres the top.

1 . A single use beverage package comprising:
 a base comprising biodegradable polylactic acid-containing material;   a top comprising biodegradable cellulose-based material, together the base and the top defining an interior volume;   a filter comprising biodegradable polylactic acid-containing material positioned in the interior volume, the filter retaining beverage ingredients; and   wherein the filter and top are hermetically sealed to the base via the polylactic acid in the base and filter.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage package of  claim 1  wherein the polylactic acid-containing material in the base comprises a polylactic acid film or sheet. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage package of  claim 1  wherein the polylactic acid-containing material in the base comprises water impermeable paper coated with polylactic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage package of  claim 1  wherein the polylactic acid-containing material in the filter comprises water permeable paper at least partially coated with polylactic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage package of  claim 1  wherein the base comprises a multilayer film or sheet containing polylactic acid and at least one low permeable polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage package of  claim 1  wherein the filter comprises a nonwoven material comprising polylactic acid and paper fibers. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage package of  claim 1  wherein the top comprises a clear cellulosic layer, a graphics layer, and a foil layer. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage package of  claim 1  wherein the base further comprises an egg-based coating, a corn-based coating, a soy-based coating, a paraffin coating, or a beeswax coating. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage package of  claim 1  wherein the base is a cup having side walls, a rim, and a peripheral flange around the cup's rim. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage package of  claim 9  wherein the top is hermetically sealed to the base and filter at the peripheral flange around the cup's rim. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage package of  claim 9  wherein the sidewalls of the cup are pleated. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage package of  claim 11  wherein the pleats provide substantially three overlapping layers of the polylactic acid-containing material of the base when the pleats are compressed. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage package of  claim 1  further comprising a pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         14 . A single use beverage package comprising:
 a pouch having side walls and an interior volume comprising biodegradable polylactic acid-containing material;   a filter comprising biodegradable polylactic acid-containing material positioned in the interior volume of the pouch, the filter retaining beverage ingredients; and   wherein the filter is sealed to the sidewalls of the pouch via the polylactic acid in the base and filter.   
     
     
         15 . A method of making a single use beverage package, comprising:
 providing a base comprising biodegradable polylactic acid-containing material;   providing a filter comprising biodegradable polylactic acid-containing material;   providing a top comprising biodegradable cellulose-based material; and   attaching the filter and top to the base with the polylactic acid in the base and filter to form a seal between the base, filter and top by applying heat and/or pressure to the base and the top.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the base is a cup having side walls, an opening, and a peripheral flange around the cup's rim. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the top is hermetically sealed to the base and filter at the peripheral flange around the cup's rim. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the sidewalls of the cup are pleated. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the pleats provide substantially three overlapping layers of the polylactic acid-containing material of the base when the pleats are compressed to form the seal between the base, filter and top. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising attaching the filter and top to the base with a sealing agent.