Coffee pods have revolutionised the way people all across the globe start their morning routine, a nice quick convenient way to get gourmet drip coffee. In Australia alone it has been estimated that 3 million coffee pods are used each day, the vast majority of which end up in landfill. The environmental impact of these pods is undeniable, not only due to the shear volume ending up in our waste system, but also the source material used to produce these pods, plastic and/or aluminium. The inventor of K-pods in the USA has himself stated that:
"No matter what they say about recycling, those things will never be recyclable,” Mr Sylvan said. “The plastic is a specialised plastic made of four different layers.” Nespresso pods are not as concerning (if handled correctly) due to being made from aluminium. Aluminium can be recycled infinitesimally and the recycled product is still extremely versatile. It is estimated that 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today. Last year Nespresso announced a recycling scheme in the UK, and their recycling scheme so far covers 39 countries. Within Australia 19,000 collection points have been established as well as a postal service for recycling these pods. For the Australian Nespresso recycling scheme the residual coffee in the pods is sent to an industrial composting facility, while the aluminium is recycled to produce new aluminium products (including new pods). I think one of the biggest issues however is awareness, I know of large organisations and many individuals who use these pods without recycling through the proper avenues. Now, even with the recycling options, are there any other more sustainable options out there? A couple of products I have recently come across are the Re-usable steel coffee capsules from Flora and Fauna, and the certified Biodegradable Coffee Pods from EcoCaffe. I have recently tried the biodegradable coffee pods and can say the quality of the coffee is excellent and has not been compromised by the different packaging. These pods are made from vegetable fibre and starch, which degrades within 180 days according to the EN13432 standard, and no petrochemicals are used within any of the packaging. Whats more, is the coffee itself, with 7 varieties being certified as fair-trade. So who's to say you can't indulge a little? Have your morning coffee, but do the right thing! If using Nespresso pods, make the most of the recycling service they offer, or better still, seek out more sustainable alternatives. Our morning routines shouldn't be costing the earth.
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AuthorMy name is Garry and I am extremely passionate about the environment. I have completed my BSc. Conservation and Wildlife Biology with First Class Honours and have worked in the Environment sector since 2009. Archives
October 2019
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Photos used under Creative Commons from Local Food Initiative, mitchell haindfield, everyoneisgone, Montgomery County Planning Commission, Takashi(aes256), ilyayakubovich.com