Green or sustainable? Bioplastics are penetrating our grocery store shelves, but are they actually helpful for the world?

We are glad that you are here. There are clearly more articles on compostable coffee pods, coffee and coffee capsules. Other educational posts on sustainable coffee pods are e.g. from leading media publishers, or Moving Beans. Alternatively go through our pertinent article on Nespresso pods as well as https://writeablog.net/compostablecoffeepods/h2-the-ecological-case-for-eco-friendly-coffee-pods-h2-hr-we-are-super.

Ever been deceived by an artificial floral plan? Ever admired the foliage just to discover that (upon closer inspection) the bouquet is in reality a scams? Greenwashing operate in an extremely similar way - brands utilizing misleading marketing to convince you that an item is eco-friendly and therefore "much better for the environment".

Unfortunately, much of these organizations assume customers have their head in the sand, and in the coffee pods market in particular, we're certainly seeing these kinds of marketing techniques growing. Encouraging words like "recyclable", "eco-friendly", "plant based" and "compostable" really put your mind at ease? However on an useful level, what do these terms actually mean and are they really as good as they sound?

We get that in some cases it's most convenient to pop your first option in the shopping trolley and individuals are certainly attempting their best to make the best options, so it's far from fair that daily shoppers are being misled.

Do not be deceived by sneaky marketing strategies or complicated terminology and labelling - we have actually assembled the info you need to avoid being greenwashed. Are the coffee pods you're utilizing in fact "green"? Let's learn.

Phony environmentally friendly products: Are your coffee capsules sustainable?

The majority of cluey customers are ending up being savvy to the reality that the option that is "recyclable" coffee pods isn't as easy and fantastic as we've been led to believe. Regrettably, the procedure of recycling capsules is neither kind nor convenient to the environment.

For numerous consumers, the rigmarole around recycling their pods avoids them from following through - it has been said that of the 13,500 capsule coffees consumed every minute, just 21% make it through to the recycling process. Some brands need to be dropped at specific collection points, published directly to the business, or perhaps require disassembling and cleaning up before the parts can be recycled separately - overall, the procedure is highly energy-intensive.

Perhaps because of this, the previous Nespresso CEO estimates the around the world rate of recycling for coffee pods to be less than 5%. Moreover, with the energy needed to carry and process the capsules in a recycling center, is this genuinely a sustainable alternative at all, or just a bandaid service for a much larger problem?

Ultimately, the issue is not whether they can be recycled or not. Naturally it is much better to recycle something than not, but the bottom line is that it's better to not produce the waste at all.

Issue = Recyclable pods can not be recycled through domestic bins + the recycling procedure has a high carbon footprint

Recycling coffee pods is a bandaid option for a much larger waste issue

When it comes to pods what does "plant-based" even indicate, and what's it got to do with how the capsule is disposed of? To the average person, it sure sounds wholesome, positive and lovely - but are they a better option than disposable, plastic pods?

Well, the primary claim you'll usually discover here is that part of the pod packaging includes particular portion of plant-based product. Often, the materials will be originated from a renewable resource, such as corn or sugarcane. If you look closely, frequently these are likewise labelled as "degradable". Here's the kicker: degradable is not to be confused with biodegradable, due to the fact that anything that is degradable will not totally break down into the soil when it winds up in landfill. Rather, it becomes small pieces of plastic that will never break down, contributing to the micro plastics problem we're presently fighting in our oceans and waterways.

Basically, when these wind up in garbage dump or our environment, they trigger more harm than great. In our humble opinion? This is probably not an excellent choice.

Issue = The bulk of plant-based pods just break down into small micro plastics

Compostable/ biodegradable coffee pods made from plant-based products like corn and sugarcane

This is where things get complicated. Biodegradable and compostable - they're sort of the very same, however sort of ... not. With sustainability "trends" increasing, biodegradable and compostable coffee pod alternatives are now plentiful. Packaged wonderfully with "greener" messaging playing a crucial function, they sure do look fantastic on the outside.

Video: Sustainable and Nespresso Pods by Moving Beans such as https://writeablog.net/compostablecoffeepods/h2-the-ecological-case-for-eco-friendly-coffee-pods-h2-hr-we-are-super.

Let's break this down (pun intended): Products that compost or biodegrade can certainly be terrific for lowering waste, if disposed of correctly. Simply because a product is labelled as "compostable", it does not necessarily indicate that it will break down in your house garden compost.

Usually, coffee pods made completely of bioplastics need commercial composting (industrially high temperatures, wetness levels, and UV light) to break down within any sensible timespan. Even still, these products can leave hazardous and behind micro-fragments residues.

It's an obscure fact that, unfortunately, it's not likely your house composting system has what it takes to break down your naturally degradable pods. Some councils supply commercial composting through their kerbside green waste collection, nevertheless they might prohibit items identified compostable or naturally degradable, so it's essential that you double-check. Always make certain to contact your local council to see if they accept bioplastic first prior to disposing.

If you were after a coffee pod that's safe to put directly in your garden compost bin, we can comprehend how this might be confusing. Some red flags to keep an eye out for (in fine print on the back of product packaging, or at the extremely base/footer of a site) are lines like:
" They are eco-friendly and recyclable, but not compostable."
" In order for compostable capsules to break down in 90 days, capsules need to be processed through a commercial composting center." or
" Please call your regional council prior to disposing in your green bin."

When it pertains to compostable items in general, ideally you wish to try to find items that are Australian certified as "House Compostable" by the Australian Bioplastics Association, ensuring they're labelled as safe for garden composts, are made from vegetable material and are plastic totally free - phew!

Secret takeaway? Always research and check out the great print on how to compost each brand prior to you buy if it feels and looks like plastic.

Problem = A lot of naturally degradable & compostable pods need commercial composting facilities to breakdown

Bioplastic coffee pods: Sustainable, or greenwash? Think twice if they look like plastic

As you understand, every product requires basic materials to be mined/grown/manufactured, processed, packaged, and delivered. This is rather an energy-hungry, short life for a such a small portion of coffee. The energy output of production is so excellent, that no single-use item can compare to a reusable item - even if it's recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable.

The best thing we human beings can do for the environment is to consume less. This lowers not just our waste, however likewise the energy expended in producing an item. Taking in less is something to keep in mind for all aspects of life. So when it concerns a pre-portioned pack of coffee, recyclable capsules get this right. The more your pod is recycled, the more sustainable each cuppa.

Aside from having the ability to choose your preferred brand of coffee, there's one more secret perk to filling your own pods: it's far more cost-efficient than buying disposable pods. If you're on a tight spending plan, invest in a pack of reusables and watch your savings roll in.

In stating this, when it concerns recyclable, it's still important to be greenwash-aware. Something to remember when shopping for any reusable item, is that quality and durability are crucial - cheaper, sadly is rarely "better". Some warnings to keep an eye out for:
• Flimsy plastic multiple-use pods with a very limited life-span (e.g. 30 uses).
• Plastic recyclable pods that are not BPA totally free, food safe and so on
• Multiple-use pods that come packaged in plastic.
• Pods from any business or website that doesn't offer any details on it's sustainability practices (just because an item is "naked" on the shelf, doesn't indicate it's upstream supply chain was pollution-free).

They, Moving Beans, are a market challenger that has been providing Nespresso pods for a long time, with more insights under Moving Beans. Do read a related blog on compostable Nespresso pods. They were one of the first to provide truly natural Nespresso coffee capsules, see https://writeablog.net/compostablecoffeepods/h2-the-ecological-case-for-eco-friendly-coffee-pods-h2-hr-we-are-super.