• About
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • MICE
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
  • Latest News
  • Features
  • Business Leaders
  • Profiles
  • Equipment
  • Research
  • Technology
  • Events
    • International Coffee Events
    • World Coffee Events
  • Market Reports
  • Sustainability
No Results
View All Results
  • Latest News
  • Features
  • Business Leaders
  • Profiles
  • Equipment
  • Research
  • Technology
  • Events
    • International Coffee Events
    • World Coffee Events
  • Market Reports
  • Sustainability
No Results
View All Results
Home

BigGreen.co.uk declares coffee pods Britain’s environmental enemy

by Staff Writer
March 25, 2015
in News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

BigGreen.co.uk has spoken out against coffee pods saying they are environmentally one of Britain’s biggest problems. The UK waste collector said that coffee pods are a horrendous waste of resources, which can only be burned or sent to landfill. “There's very little we can do to recycle these things, and they end up either going straight to landfill, or being directed to energy recovery (the burning of waste to generate electricity),” said Mark Hall, a spokesperson for BigGreen.co.uk, in a statement. BigGreen.co.uk said that businesses seem to be the biggest culprit for the tide of coffee pod waste. “Not only are they ubiquitous in reception areas, but they're also being offered to staff as a means to replace canteen facilities,” said Hall, in the statement. “BigGreen.co.uk operators say that general waste from companies is now heaving with used coffee capsules.” According to a report in trade magazine The Grocer, UK sales of the capsules were nearly £87 million (US$130 million) in the year to August 2014, and are expected to top £100 million (US$148 million) in 2015. This equates to 350 million empty pods going in the bin in the last year alone. BigGreen.co.uk said that UK landfill sites are fast reaching capacity, with only very limited scope for opening new sites due to complex planning regulations and local opposition. “Coffee pod machines always struck us as the solution to a problem that didn't exist in the first place,” said Mark, in the statement. “It wasn't as if using a filter coffee machine was that difficult anyway.” BigGreen.co.uk said it urges both householders and businesses to think carefully before investing in coffee pods. “If you're the kind of person that cares about the environment, you might want to wait until a green alternative emerges,” said Hall. Earlier this month American K-Cup inventor John Sylvan told The Atlantic newspaper that coffee pods will never be recyclable and that he regrets his invention. Watch: Kill The K-Cup, an online petition against coffee pods, recently released the apocalyptic video below.

Related Posts

The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) has relaunched the Coffee Sustainability Support Database with new and improved digital features.

ICO relaunches Coffee Sustainability Support Database

by Georgia Smith
June 20, 2025

The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) has relaunched the Coffee Sustainability Support Database with new and improved digital features. Previously known...

L'OR Espresso Ferrari collaboration

L’OR launches new coffee line in collaboration with Ferrari

by Georgia Smith
June 20, 2025

L’OR Espresso, part of the JDE Peet’s group of coffee brands, has introduced a new coffee collection inspired by its...

Image: ecstk22/stock.adobe.com

New World of Coffee location announced

by Daniel Woods
June 20, 2025

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has revealed Belgium will host its first ever World of Coffee event in 2026, with...

Please login to join discussion

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Prime Creative Media launched Global Coffee Report in April 2011 with the aim of promoting, growing and informing the global coffee industry through the provision of the most relevant and current information and in-depth analysis from the sector’s most influential voices.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Global Coffee Report

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Magazine
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • Latest News
  • Profiles
  • Products
  • Market Reports
  • Technology
  • Equipment
  • Marketing

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
  • Features
  • Business Leaders
  • Profiles
  • Equipment
  • Research & Development
  • Technology
  • Events
    • International Coffee Events
    • World Coffee Events
  • Market Reports
  • Sustainability
  • About Us
  • Advertise with Global Coffee Report
  • Latest Magazine
  • Contact Global Coffee Report

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited