Partnership between retailer and Podback will allow customers to return used pods through Asda’s toYou parcel returns service.
Addressing coffee pod waste, Asda has announced its partnership with Podback, the UK-wide scheme to recycle single-use pods.
Available across more than 600 stores, customers will be able to recycle their used aluminium and plastic coffee pods through Asda’s toYou parcel returns service. Podback users will be able to return filled Podback bags at their nearest participating store.
The returned pods will be recycled at facilities within the UK, where the coffee grounds will be separated from the pod materials by shredding. The grounds are either composted or processed with other food wastes using anaerobic digestion, creating biogas and soil improver for agriculture.
The remaining materials - plastic and aluminium - are sent through different recycling streams, and can be used to manufacture new products such as drinks cans, building products, and garden furniture.
Approximately 800 million beverage pods are sold in the UK each year, with over 20 per cent of households owning a coffee pod machine.
Beth Fowler, Senior Manager of Healthy and Sustainable Choices at Asda, commented: “The partnership with Podback is one of many workstreams across Asda’s ESG strategy including broader commitments on packaging reduction, recyclability and recycled content. By offering the collection and recycling service with Asda toYou and Podback, we hope that we can make recycling more convenient than ever when shopping with Asda.”
Podback was launched in 2021 by Nestlé and Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE), and has previously partnered with brands including Nespresso, Tassimo, Starbucks, and L’OR.
Rick Hindley, Executive Director at Podback, added: “Our partnership with Asda marks an exciting step forward in Podback’s mission to make sure every coffee pod enjoyed is recycled.
“Our customers tell us that they want easy and convenient ways to recycle, and the nationwide network of Asda toYou drop-off points means they can now drop their pods off for recycling as part of their regular visit to the supermarket.”
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