Green or sustainable? Bioplastics are penetrating our supermarket racks, but are they truly great for the world?

We are super happy that you landed on our site. Generally, we have of course more blogs on coffee, coffee pods and compostable coffee pods. Other meaningful websites on natural coffee capsules are e.g. from leading media publishers, or Moving Beans. In addition read our good blog on Nespresso pods as well as https://postheaven.net/compostablecoffeepods/h2-the-environmental-case-for-eco-friendly-coffee-capsules-h2-hr-we-are.

Ever been fooled by a synthetic floral plan? Ever marvelled at the foliage just to discover that (upon closer evaluation) the arrangement remains in reality a fraud? Greenwashing operate in a very comparable way - brand names utilizing misleading marketing to encourage you that an item is eco-friendly and for that reason "much better for the environment".

Unfortunately, many of these services assume consumers have their head in the sand, and in the coffee pods industry in particular, we're definitely seeing these sort of marketing techniques on the rise. Encouraging words like "recyclable", "naturally degradable", "plant based" and "compostable" truly put your mind at ease? However on a practical level, what do these terms truly suggest and are they in fact as good as they sound?

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

Do not be deceived by tricky advertising techniques or confusing terminology and labelling - we've assembled the details you need to prevent being greenwashed. So, are the coffee pods you're using really "green"? Let's discover.

Fake eco-friendly items: Are your coffee capsules sustainable?

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

For lots of 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, only 21% make it through to the recycling procedure. Some brand names require to be dropped at particular collection points, posted directly to the company, and even need taking apart and cleaning up prior to the parts can be recycled individually - general, the process is extremely energy-intensive.

Possibly because of this, the former Nespresso CEO estimates the worldwide rate of recycling for coffee pods to be less than 5%. Moreover, with the energy required to transfer and process the capsules in a recycling center, is this really a sustainable choice at all, or simply a bandaid solution for a much bigger concern?

Eventually, the problem is not whether they can be recycled or not. Of course it is better to recycle something than not, however the bottom line is that it's much better to not produce the waste at all.

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

Recycling coffee pods is a bandaid option for a much bigger waste problem

First of all, when it concerns pods what does "plant-based" even indicate, and what's it got to make with how the capsule is dealt with? To the average person, it sure noises wholesome, lovely and favorable - however are they a better choice than disposable, plastic pods?

Well, the main claim you'll normally find here is that part of the pod product packaging consists of specific percentage of plant-based material. Instead, it turns into small pieces of plastic that will never break down, contributing to the micro plastics concern we're presently fighting in our oceans and waterways.

Basically, when these wind up in landfill or our environment, they cause more damage than excellent. In our humble viewpoint? This is probably not an excellent choice.

Issue = The majority of plant-based pods just degrade into small micro plastics

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

Compostable and eco-friendly - they're kind of the same, but kind of ... not. With sustainability "patterns" on the rise, biodegradable and compostable coffee pod options are now abundant.

Video: Sustainable and Nespresso Pods by Moving Beans such as https://postheaven.net/compostablecoffeepods/h2-the-environmental-case-for-eco-friendly-coffee-capsules-h2-hr-we-are.

Let's break this down (pun intended): Products that biodegrade or compost can certainly be fantastic for reducing waste, if disposed of correctly. Just because an item is identified as "compostable", it doesn't always suggest that it will break down in your house garden compost.

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

It's an obscure reality that, regrettably, it's unlikely your home composting system has what it takes to break down your biodegradable pods. Some councils supply commercial composting through their kerbside green waste collection, however they may forbid items labelled eco-friendly or compostable, so it's important that you verify. Constantly be sure to contact your local council to see if they accept bioplastic first before getting rid of.

If you were after a coffee pod that's safe to put straight in your garden compost bin, we can understand how this could be confusing. Some warnings to watch out for (in small print on the back of product packaging, or at the very base/footer of a site) are lines like:
" They are biodegradable and recyclable, however not compostable."
" In order for compostable capsules to break down in 90 days, capsules need to be processed through an industrial composting center." or
" Please contact your regional council before getting rid of in your green bin."

When it concerns compostable items in general, preferably you want to look for products that are Australian accredited as "Home Compostable" by the Australian Bioplastics Association, guaranteeing they're labelled as safe for garden composts, are made from vegetable material and are plastic totally free - phew!

Secret takeaway? If it feels and look like plastic, constantly research and check out the fine print on how to compost each brand before you purchase.

Issue = Many biodegradable & compostable pods require commercial composting facilities to breakdown

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

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

The best thing we people can do for the environment is to take in less. This lowers not just our waste, but likewise the energy used up in producing a product. Taking in less is something to keep in mind for all elements of life. So when it pertains to a pre-portioned pack of coffee, reusable capsules get this right. The more your pod is reused, the more sustainable each cuppa.

Aside from having the ability to select your preferred brand name of coffee, there's another secret benefit to filling your own pods: it's a lot more cost-effective than purchasing non reusable pods. If you're on a tight spending plan, invest in a pack of reusables and watch your cost savings roll in.

In saying this, when it pertains to reusable, it's still essential to be greenwash-aware. Something to keep in mind when shopping for any reusable product, is that quality and longevity are crucial - cheaper, sadly is seldom "much better". Some red flags to look out for:
• Flimsy plastic multiple-use pods with an exceptionally minimal lifespan (e.g. 30 uses).
• Plastic multiple-use pods that are not BPA free, food safe etc.
• Recyclable pods that come packaged in plastic.
• Pods from any business or site that doesn't supply any information on it's sustainability practices (just because a product is "naked" on the shelf, does not imply it's upstream supply chain was pollution-free).

Moving Beans is a market challenger that has provided Nespresso pods for a long time, with much more info under Moving Beans. In addition go through a lead blog on compostable Nespresso pods. They were the first to deliver truly sustainable Nespresso-compatible coffee pods, see https://postheaven.net/compostablecoffeepods/h2-the-environmental-case-for-eco-friendly-coffee-capsules-h2-hr-we-are.