Coffee makers brew up recycling programme

THE two biggest players in the UK coffee industry have joined forces to create the first-of-its-kind recycling programme for coffee pods.

Hatton-based Nestlé has joined with Jacobs Douwe Egberts to create Podback, a not-for-profit organisation.

The programme is the UK’s first cross-industry collaboration of its kind within the coffee sector, providing several easy ways for consumers to recycle their coffee pods.

Launching in early 2021, the scheme will initially cover brands including Nespresso, Nescafé Dolce Gusto and Tassimo – representing the majority of the UK market – and the ambition is to expand the programme to include all coffee brands that use plastic or aluminium pods in the UK.

The move comes as research reveals confusion among consumers, with more than a third of coffee pod drinkers unaware that pods can be recycled, and nine in 10 stating that they’d like to be able to recycle their pods through their usual household recycling.

Guillaume Chesneau, managing director of Nespresso UK and Ireland and board director of Podback, said the hope among those behind Podback was that the scheme would have maximum impact.

He said: “As co-founders of the scheme, as well as pioneers of the minimal-waste portioned coffee system, we are excited to build on our strong existing recycling services already in place. Our ambition is to create a powerful end-to-end recycling solution, available to all, and Podback demonstrates our commitment towards achieving this important goal. We are working closely with manufacturers, retailers and local authorities and calling upon them to join us and ensure the scheme has maximum impact.”

Toby Bevans, marketing director of Jacobs Douwe Egberts and board director of Podback, said: “We are proud to be a co-founder of Podback in the UK, working to ensure that every pod enjoyed is easily recycled.

“Together with Nestlé, we are calling on the entire industry to put commercial rivalries aside and collaborate, working together with other brands and retailers to make it as easy as possible for our consumers to recycle their pods.”

Podback will expand recycling options for coffee pods in three ways:

■ Collect+: Consumers will be able to take their used coffee pods to their nearest Collect+ delivered by Yodel drop-off point.

There are more than 6,500 drop-off points in local stores across the UK, open seven days a week.

■ Kerbside collection: In a pioneering effort to make recycling easier for consumers, coffee pods will be collected alongside their regular household waste and recycling.

This has not previously been possible within the UK’s waste infrastructure.

Retailer “handover at home”: Consumers can have their used coffee pods collected for recycling when they have their groceries delivered.

This is unlikely to be ready for launch. Collected pods will be taken to re-processors in the UK to separate the packaging from the used coffee grounds before being recycled into a range of everyday products.