MORRISONS has struck a partnership with Podback to allow customers a way of recycling coffee pods.
The supermarket will offer free Podback Collect+ recycling bags from its customer service desks, with customers being able to fill them with pods then post them fo free at Yodel drop off points.
Through the Podback scheme, used aluminium pods are turned into aluminium ingots for new products – such as beverage cans, and used plastic coffee pods are turned into other plastic items, such as furniture. The used coffee grounds also go through anaerobic digestion to produce a combination of biogas and soil improver.
Podback is the first coffee pod recycling scheme of its kind in the UK, and was set up by Nestle and Jacobs Douwe Egberts UK. Current participating brands include Nespresso, Tassimo, L’OR, Nescafé Gusto, Starbucks by Nespresso, Starbucks by Nescafé Dolce Gusto, Cru Kafe, Artisan Coffee Co, Allpress Espresso, Colonna Coffee and Café Palmieri by Jomad Coffee.
The move by the supermarket follows increased sales of coffee pods, with them rising by 32% from pre-pandemic levels – which it attributes to more people working from home.
Rick Hindley, executive director at Podback, said, “Podback provides consumers all over the UK with an easy way to recycle their coffee pods, no matter what brand they are buying. Morrisons is the first retailer to become a supporter of the Podback scheme, as well as provide bags in store.
“This is a great step forward and progress towards ensuring recycling coffee pods becomes second nature. Our goal is to ensure every pod enjoyed is recycled and working with retailers, like Morrisons, is crucial to ensuring the scheme is convenient and simple. We welcome other retailers to join to make it even easier for consumers to recycle pods in the future.”
Lorraine Wheeler, environmental packaging manager at Morrisons, added, “Many of our customers want to brew fresh coffee at home using a coffee pod. But to date, coffee pod recycling has been confusing for consumers, with several different schemes by multiple brands. Podback offers an easy, simple scheme for all of our customers.”
