The coffee pod is one of the most important inventions in the coffee industry, being responsible for making hundreds, if not thousands, of excellent roasts available to a wider public than ever before. But that progress has come at a terrible price to the planet with an estimated 40 million coffee pods ending up in landfills every day.
Substituting the materials used in making coffee pods from plastic to aluminum was therefore not only a good choice commercially, but also an extremely necessary one from an environmental standpoint. In order to properly explain why, we’ve compiled this guide that breaks down the advantages of aluminum pods, addresses common misconceptions, and offers tips for recycling effectively.
Why Choose Aluminum Pods?
Firstly, let’s quickly break down the advantages aluminum posed as a coffee pod material:
- Recyclability: Aluminum is infinitely recyclable, meaning it can be reused repeatedly without degrading in quality. They can be melted down and repurposed into new products over and over again without losing quality, significantly reducing waste.
- Preservation of Flavor: Aluminum pods create an airtight seal, protecting the coffee dust (called “fine”) from exposure to oxygen, light, and moisture. This ensures that your coffee stays fresher for longer, delivering a richer and more consistent flavor.
- Sustainability: Using aluminum also means reducing the demand for new materials while also decreasing the energy required for production, lowering the overall environmental footprint.
Addressing Common Misconceptions
Now, the change from plastic to aluminum, while lauded by many, also has its fair share of critics, who tend to point to a few key arguments against it. Here’s how we answer to some to major ones:
- “Aluminum Pods Are Hard to Recycle”: While it’s true that proper recycling requires a bit of effort, most recycling facilities are equipped to process aluminum. By taking a few simple steps, consumers can ensure their used pods are recycled correctly.
- “Aluminum Is as Harmful as Plastic”: Unlike plastic, which often takes hundreds of years to break down, aluminum is a circular material. With the right infrastructure, aluminum can be recycled within weeks and returned to the market as a new product.
- “Recycling Aluminum Uses Too Much Energy”: While recycling aluminum does require energy, it’s far less than producing new aluminum from raw materials. In fact, recycling aluminum saves up to 95% of the energy compared to new production.
Tips for Recycling Aluminum Coffee Pods
Now that we’ve established how much of an advantage aluminum’s recyclability poses over plastic for the environment, let’s have a look at how you can help us reuse every bit of aluminum we can:
- Empty the Pod: After brewing,set the pod aside to cool for a moment, then remove the used coffee grounds. These can be composted or disposed of in organic waste bins, depending on your local guidelines.
- Check Local Guidelines: Speaking of which. Recycling requirements can vary by location. Confirm that your local recycling program accepts aluminum pods and follow their specific instructions.
- Use Recycling Programs: Some coffee brands offer take-back programs for used pods, providing pre-paid envelopes or drop-off points to ensure proper recycling.
- Crush for Convenience: To save space, consider gently crushing your used pods + before placing them in the recycling bin.
Making the Switch
As more and more people begin start to realize the advantages and strengths of aluminum over plastic, not only for Cambio and others who wish to adopt it, but also for the customers who get to enjoy better coffee without guilt, and perhaps most importantly, for the planet itself, we will start to see a major shift in the market.
In fact, we would even be so bold as to say that shift has already started and that we are happy to be at the forefront of this change. And you can be as well. Visit the Cambio Roasters website and check out the benefits of aluminum for yourself.
Not only will you be helping us increase the demand for aluminum pods overall, thus shifting the market towards sustainability, but you’ll also get to see how much better the coffee really tastes.
