The trial extends Podback's retail presence to convenience stores for the first time, following partnerships with Morrisons and Asda that have seen millions of pods recycled through supermarket collection points across the UK.
Co-op has partnered with Podback to trial in-store coffee pod recycling across 33 stores, marking the first time a UK convenience retailer has provided dedicated collection points for the scheme.
The six-month trial will see Podback-branded recycling units installed in 30 Co-op stores across southwest England and in the retailer's three sustainability showcase stores in Leeds, Soham, and Northampton, which the return-scheme says can be found using its online Recycle Checker tool.
The scheme accepts both plastic and aluminium pods from Podback's member brands, using its branded recycling bags to return used pods at the in-store collection points.
The partnership follows Podback's expansion across UK retail throughout 2024 and 2025. The scheme now operates at more than 1,100 retail locations and 260 local authority recycling centres nationwide.
In January 2025, Asda announced its partnership with Podback across more than 600 stores, allowing customers to return used pods through the retailer's toYou parcel returns service.
Podback reported that by summer 2025, it had recycled over 10 million coffee pods in partnership with Morrisons, with Podback units installed in 411 Morrisons stores between January and June 2025.
Rick Hindley, Executive Director at Podback, said: "We're thrilled to be partnering with The Co-op on this trial. Our mission is to give lovers of pod coffee simple and convenient ways to recycle, and Podback customers throughout the UK have responded positively to the introduction of drop-off points in retail locations because it's easy to combine recycling with their regular routines."
Scott McHarg, Head of Co-op & Property Sustainability, said: "We're delighted to be partnering with Podback. Recycling is a topic that our member-owners are extremely passionate about and this new trial is another way we can make it easier for our customers to do the right thing for the planet when shopping in our stores."
Approximately 800 million beverage pods are sold in the UK annually, with over 20 per cent of households owning a coffee pod machine.
Coffee pod systems account for 48.7 per cent of all domestic coffee machine sales in the UK, according to the Coffee at Home UK Report 2023, outpacing espresso and filter machines.
Podback was launched in 2021 by Nestlé and Jacobs Douwe Egberts, with members now representing over 80 per cent of the UK coffee pod market.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.