Green or sustainable? Bioplastics are infiltrating our supermarket shelves, however are they actually great for the planet?

We are happy that you landed on our site. Generally, we have naturally more articles on coffee, Nespresso pods and compostable coffee pods. Other interesting articles on compostable coffee pods are for instance from leading media publishers, or Moving Beans. Alternatively check out our good article on Nespresso pods as well as https://importantsuitgardener.tumblr.com/post/666182503991853056.

Ever been fooled by an artificial flower plan? Ever marvelled at the foliage only to find that (upon closer inspection) the arrangement is in fact a fraud? Greenwashing operate in an extremely similar method - brands harnessing deceptive marketing to encourage you that a product is environmentally friendly and for that reason "much better for the environment".

Sadly, a lot of these companies presume consumers have their head in the sand, and in the coffee capsule industry in particular, we're certainly seeing these type of marketing methods on the rise. Reassuring words like "recyclable", "eco-friendly", "plant based" and "compostable" really put your mind at ease? But on a practical level, what do these terms truly indicate and are they in fact as good as they sound?

We get that often it's easiest to pop your first option in the shopping trolley and people are certainly trying their finest to make the right options, so it's far from fair that daily consumers are being deceived.

Don't be fooled by sneaky advertising techniques or complicated terminology and labelling - we have actually compiled the information you require to prevent being greenwashed. Are the coffee pods you're using actually "green"? Let's find out.

Fake environmentally friendly items: Are your coffee capsules sustainable?

Most cluey consumers are ending up being smart to the truth that the option that is "recyclable" coffee pods isn't terrific and as simple as we've been led to believe. Sadly, the process of recycling capsules is neither kind nor practical to the environment.

For many consumers, the rigmarole around recycling their pods prevents 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 brand names need to be dropped at specific collection points, published straight to the business, or even require disassembling and cleaning up before the parts can be recycled independently - total, the process is extremely energy-intensive.

Possibly because of this, the former Nespresso CEO approximates the around the world rate of recycling for coffee pods to be less than 5%. Moreover, with the energy needed to transport and process the capsules in a recycling center, is this truly a sustainable choice at all, or just a bandaid service for a much larger issue?

Ultimately, the problem is not whether they can be recycled or not. Of course it is 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 by means of domestic bins + the recycling process has a high carbon footprint

Recycling coffee pods is a bandaid solution for a much bigger waste concern

First of all, when it comes to pods what does "plant-based" even suggest, and what's it got to make with how the capsule is gotten rid of? To the average individual, it sure sounds wholesome, favorable and charming - however are they a much better option than non reusable, plastic pods?

Well, the main claim you'll usually find here is that part of the pod packaging contains particular portion of plant-based product. Rather, it turns into small pieces of plastic that will never break down, contributing to the micro plastics concern we're currently fighting in our waterways and oceans.

Basically, when these end up in landfill or our environment, they cause more harm than excellent. In our simple viewpoint? This is most likely not a fantastic option.

Problem = The bulk of plant-based pods simply degrade into small micro plastics

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

This is where things get complicated. Biodegradable and compostable - they're kind of the very same, however kind of ... not. With sustainability "patterns" increasing, compostable and biodegradable coffee pod choices are now abundant. Packaged wonderfully with "greener" messaging playing an essential function, they sure do look terrific on the outside.

Video: Sustainable and Nespresso Pods by Moving Beans such as https://importantsuitgardener.tumblr.com/post/666182503991853056.

Let's break this down (pun planned): Products that compost or biodegrade can definitely be terrific for lowering waste, if disposed of properly. Nevertheless, just because a product is labelled as "compostable", it does not necessarily indicate that it will break down in your home compost.

Generally, coffee pods made totally of bioplastics need industrial composting (industrially high temperatures, moisture levels, and UV light) to decompose within any reasonable amount of time. Even still, these materials can leave behind micro-fragments and hazardous residues.

It's a little-known truth that, regrettably, it's unlikely your home composting system has what it requires to break down your biodegradable pods. Some councils provide industrial composting through their kerbside green waste collection, however they might restrict products identified biodegradable or compostable, so it's vital that you verify. Always be sure to talk to your local council to see if they accept bioplastic very first prior to disposing.

So if you sought a coffee pod that's safe to put straight in your compost bin, we can comprehend how this could be confusing. Some red flags to watch out for (in fine print on the back of product packaging, or at the very base/footer of a website) are lines like:
" They are naturally degradable 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 facility." or
" Please call your local council prior to disposing in your green bin."

When it concerns compostable products in general, ideally you wish to search for products that are Australian accredited as "House Compostable" by the Australian Bioplastics Association, guaranteeing they're labelled as safe for composts, are made from veggie material and are plastic complimentary - phew!

Key takeaway? If it feels and looks like plastic, always research study and read the fine print on how to compost each brand prior to you purchase.

Problem = Many eco-friendly & compostable pods need industrial composting centers to breakdown

Bioplastic coffee pods: Sustainable, or greenwash? If they look like plastic, hesitate

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

When it comes to a pre-portioned pack of coffee, multiple-use capsules get this. The more your pod is recycled, the more sustainable each cuppa.

Aside from being able to choose your favourite brand name of coffee, there's another secret bonus to filling your own pods: it's much more economical than purchasing disposable pods. If you're on a tight budget plan, invest in a pack of reusables and view your savings roll in.

In saying this, when it comes to recyclable, it's still important to be greenwash-aware. Something to bear in mind when searching for any reusable product, is that quality and durability are crucial - more affordable, unfortunately is hardly ever "much better". Some red flags to look out for:
• Flimsy plastic recyclable pods with a very minimal lifespan (e.g. 30 usages).
• Plastic recyclable pods that are not BPA free, food safe and so on
• Reusable pods that come packaged in plastic.
• Pods from any business or site that does not offer any information on it's sustainability practices (even if a product is "naked" on the shelf, does not imply it's upstream supply chain was pollution-free).

They, Moving Beans, are a company that has been providing compostable Nespresso pods for a very long time, with much more information under the website of Moving Beans. Or read a related article on compostable Nespresso pods. They were one of the first to sell compostable Nespresso-compatible coffee capsules, see https://importantsuitgardener.tumblr.com/post/666182503991853056.