Lavazza Tablì Wins Designboom Special Prize at Seoul Design Award
The capsule-free coffee system secures third place for its innovative sustainable design approach.
1Award-Winning Sustainable Innovation
Lavazza has secured third place in the designboom Special Prize at the Seoul Design Award 2026. The recognition highlights the company's Tablì system, an innovative coffee solution designed to eliminate the need for traditional capsules. This project reflects a growing industry focus on balancing consumer convenience with significant environmental responsibility.
2Addressing Global Capsule Waste
The project addresses the massive environmental impact of single-serve coffee consumption. Approximately 20 billion capsules are discarded annually worldwide, with Germany alone generating 13,500 metric tons of waste. Lavazza’s design team, led by Florian Seidl, sought to disrupt this cycle by creating a system that removes plastic and aluminum packaging entirely.
3Revolutionary Coffee Tab Mechanism
Tablì replaces conventional capsules with a tab made entirely of compressed coffee. This design eliminates the need for additives, coatings, or non-recyclable materials. By focusing on a tab composed solely of organic material, the system ensures that the only byproduct generated after brewing is organic waste, simplifying the disposal process for consumers.
4Holistic Sustainable Ecosystem Design
The innovation extends beyond the coffee tab to include a dedicated machine and accessories. The machine is constructed from post-consumer plastics, prioritizing long-term repairability and energy efficiency. This holistic approach ensures that environmental care is integrated into every stage of the product lifecycle, from initial production to daily household maintenance.
5Designboom Special Prize Criteria
To qualify for the designboom Special Prize, projects must embody values like being intentionally curious and fearlessly meaningful. The jury evaluated Tablì based on its ability to harmonize human needs with environmental protection. The system was praised for its bold vision, proving that functionality and aesthetics can coexist without compromising ecological standards.
6Intuitive User Experience Features
The machine features a height-adjustable cup rest with a metal grid and a transparent water tank for easy monitoring. A sliding opening mechanism facilitates the insertion of coffee tabs, ensuring a smooth and intuitive operation. These design choices elevate the user experience while maintaining the core mission of reducing environmental impact.
7Multidisciplinary Design Team Effort
The project was developed by a multidisciplinary team hailing from Italy, a nation deeply rooted in coffee tradition. Led by Florian Seidl, the group included Angelica Rella, Marco Rotundo, and Nicola Bettoni. Their collaborative effort demonstrates how traditional expertise can be combined with modern design thinking to solve contemporary waste challenges.
8Future Implications for Coffee
Tablì represents a shift toward circular economy principles within the consumer coffee market. By proving that convenience does not require excessive packaging, Lavazza sets a new benchmark for the industry. Future developments in this space will likely focus on scaling such capsule-free technologies to reach a broader global consumer base.