Costa Coffee has announced it will trial coffee pod recycling in 142 stores across the UK.
The new trial is part of a collaboration with the UK coffee pod recycling service Podback. Customers can pick up free recycling bags in-store and return them once full for Podback to collect and recycle.
The Podback bags will be available in all 133 Costa Coffee stores located within Tesco stores across the UK, and nine Costa Coffee stores in the Swindon area.
Podback-branded recycling points have also been installed in the participating Tesco stores.
The scheme accepts plastic and aluminium pods from any Podback member brands, not only Costa Coffee pods for Nespresso, Tassimo and NESCAFE Dolce Gusto machines.
The rollout of the new recycling points began in August, building on Costa Coffee’s existing in-house pod recycling scheme.
The trial means Costa Coffee will become the first UK coffee chain to collaborate with Podback to introduce customer-facing pod recycling points.
The trial will allow us to gather valuable customer feedback and insights.
Commenting on the new trial, Liz Higgins, Head of Sustainability at Costa Coffee, said: “We are always looking for new ways to make it easier for our customers to recycle our packaging.
“Through this trial with Podback, in-store drop-off points will offer coffee pod users the chance to conveniently recycle their pods with us – whether they are Costa branded or not.
“The new front-of-house recycling units will be supported by increased messaging in store, which we hope will act as a reminder to customers when visiting our participating stores.
“The trial will allow us to gather valuable customer feedback and insights, which we will use to enhance our future recycling solutions for pods, cups, and other packaging materials.”
Podback says it recycles all used aluminium and plastic pods in the UK.
Aluminium is used to manufacture beverage cans and car components, while plastic is used to manufacture a range of items, including packaging crates and building products.
The used coffee grounds are treated by anaerobic digestion to produce renewable energy (biogas) and soil improver.
Rick Hindley, Executive Director of Podback, commented: “This trial gives Podback customers the opportunity to drop off their used pods at local Costa Coffee stores, a response to customer feedback telling us people want a choice of ways to recycle that fit with their daily lives.
“We are excited to be working with Costa Coffee and Tesco to make this a reality in more than 140 locations across the country.
“We are sure Podback customers will welcome the new service, and hope that it is the first step to rolling out more drop-off locations throughout the UK.”
