How to Reduce the Impact of Your Coffee Pod Consumption

More than 20 billion coffee pods are disposed of globally each year. In fact, 39,000 pods are produced every minute. These conveniences produce waste on a massive scale and represent a sustainability concern for consumers and policymakers across the nation.

Coffee pods are made from a variety of materials, each with a different environmental impact.

• Plastic pods are technically recyclable, but often end up in landfills due to contamination and their small size, which most recycling systems struggle to sort from other materials.
• Aluminum pods are more valuable but difficult to recycle due to contamination, and only specialized programs can handle them.
• Compostable pods made from PLA need industrial composting to break down properly. In landfills, PLA can release methane, a potent greenhouse gas with 28 times more warming potential than CO₂.

Proper recycling or composting a coffee pod can cut 2g to 5g CO₂ per pod, and if you consume a lot of coffee that can add up significantly over time. However, improper disposal contributes to over 400 million pounds of pod waste annually in the U.S.

Carbon Emissions in Coffee Pod Production

Coffee pods and your morning brew produce environmental impacts at every step of the production and coffee-making process:

• Coffee Farming is the biggest source of emissions. Producing 1 kg of Arabica coffee emits approximately 15 kg of CO₂ due to land and water use, packaging, transportation, and processing. [MR1] [FN2] [FN3] 
• Coffee Use: A coffee pod typically contains about 5.7g of coffee, slightly less than the 7g used in a standard cup of filter coffee, which helps reduce the environmental impact of raw materials.
• Energy Use: While pod machines heat only the amount needed, they still consume more energy per cup than traditional brewing methods, such as French press or drip systems.

Home vs. Industrial Compostability

Most compostable pods, including those made from plant-based PLA, will not break down in backyard bins. They require sustained heat and controlled moisture, which industrial composting provides, whereas typical home piles can’t achieve.

Terms like bioplastic, biodegradable, and compostable are often confused, but they aren’t the same. Bioplastics aren’t always compostable, and true compostable plastics, such as PLA, require industrial conditions defined by the ASTM D6400 and EN 13432 standards in the U.S. and Europe, respectively, to break down. Misunderstanding these labels can lead to improper disposal and contaminate recycling or composting systems.

Industrial Composting facilities maintain optimal conditions for full pod breakdown. Pilot studies, including those conducted by the University of Tennessee, have shown that compostable pods break down entirely within 46 days in industrial facilities. These pilots help test the real-world viability of compostable packaging.

Yet, as of 2023, only about 200 industrial composting facilities in the U.S. accept compostable packaging, fewer than 15% of all composting sites nationwide.

Barriers to Better Composting

Many U.S. consumers are unsure whether coffee pods are recyclable or compostable, leading to confusion about proper disposal. Their confusion is compounded by infrastructure gaps in many regions, where industrial composting facilities are unavailable. Beneath these difficulties, the primary reason for recycling inconsistencies is the financial constraints on local governments, which struggle to fund effective composting and recycling systems.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies represent an emerging approch to recycling regulation that holds manufacturers accountable for their products and packaging throughout their lifecycle, from creation to disposal. EPR promises to reduce the financial burden of recycling on local governments and encourages manufacturers to use recyclable or compostable materials.

While there are no coffee-specific EPR laws, states like Washington and Maryland are pioneering EPR programs that will force the coffee pod industry to adopt sustainability. Initially, pod makers will be required by states to provide clear labeling and establish take-back systems for used pods. With EPR funding, we can improve composting and recycling infrastructure more generally.

Reducing Your Footprint: What Helps

Composting is more sustainable and more cost-effective. First, it reduces the volume required for landfills while significantly helping to reduce methane gas emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. Second, the process turns organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, which can be used to enhance soil health. This value-added product contributes greatly to sustainable farming, creating a closed-loop system where waste is recycled back into the land, enriching it for future growth.

A growing number of companies offer alternatives to aluminum and plastic coffee pods:

• Woken Coffee: Home-compostable, Nespresso-compatible pods
• 321 Coffee: Distributed at Whole Foods, these Keurig- and Nespresso-compatible pods are compostable at home or an industrial facility
• Tayst Coffee: These industrially compostable Keurig-compatible, plant-based pods are plastic-free
• Pod & Parcel: Nespresso-compatible pods shipped from Australia.

To reduce your coffee pod waste, consider these solutions:

• Reusable Pods: Refillable options eliminate waste and reduce emissions.
• Innovative Materials: Choose certified compostable or recyclable pods, and ensure they’re disposed of properly.
• Take-Back Programs: Support brands with mail-in programs for aluminum pods, including Nespresso (which requires purchasing pods directly from the company), or send your used pods to TerraCycle.
• Advocate for EPR policies: Encourage your local representatives to adopt EPR laws.

Where to Compost Pods?

If you want to compost your coffee pods or organic waste, there are numerous options available. CompostNow serves cities like Atlanta, Asheville, Cincinnati, and Raleigh-Durham. Bootstrap Compost is available in Boston, Providence, and Worcester, while Compost Crew covers D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. If you live in other areas, find local options by checking directories, including Earth911’s Recycling Locator (add your ZIP Code to this search) or GreenPaper Products, which offers a state-by-state composting guide. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance also provides a map of community composting programs.

If you prefer home composting and the pods you have can break down at lower temperatures, vermicomposting is a great option for small spaces. Backyard bins also work well if you have the room.

Coffee pods offer convenience but at an environmental cost. Reducing their footprint requires better design, stronger infrastructure, and coordinated action. With support from producers, consumers, and policymakers, we can brew a more sustainable future.

About the Author

Fizza Nabeel is an experienced sustainability writer with nearly a decade of expertise in eco-friendly practices. She specializes in simplifying complex environmental topics into actionable insights. Fizza currently works with DRIDER ZERO 9 E SCOOTER, promoting sustainable transportation.