Keurig Dr Pepper achieves target to make all K-Cup pods recyclable

Keurig Dr Pepper has announced that 100% of its K-Cup coffee pods that it produces are now recyclable and made from polypropylene plastic.

The achievement comes after the company committed to increase and improve the recovery and recycling of polypropylene plastic in the US over the next five years, through a $10 million investment in The Recycling Partnership’s Polypropylene Recycling Coalition.

At the same time, The Coalition has named the first four materials recovery facilities in the US to receive grants through the collaboration – New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio – to help them improve and increase the sortation and collection of polypropylene.

To meet its target, Keurig Dr Pepper converted more than 100 manufacturing lines to produce the pods now made from polypropylene plastic. 

The new packaging for the recyclable K-Cup pods will feature a green recyclable flag as well as the How2Recycle label, in order to communicate clear recycling instructions to consumers.

According to Keurig Dr Pepper, it produces approximately 80% of the coffee pods sold at retail for use in Keurig brewers and began shipping the new recyclable format to retailers earlier this year.

“It’s an exciting day for KDP and our partners as we complete this multi-year journey that required intensive product development, significant capital investment and expansive industry engagement,” said Monique Oxender, chief sustainability officer at Keurig Dr Pepper. 

Oxender added: “Designing recyclable coffee pods is just one important step in our journey to make the Keurig brewing system more sustainable. Our work continues to minimise our overall plastic footprint while we play a leadership role in cross-industry collaborations for critical recycling infrastructure improvements across the US and Canada in support of a circular economy.”

In August, the beverage company claimed it was on track to achieve its goal of 100% recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025, as it revealed that nearly 90% of packaging across its entire portfolio is now recyclable.