Globally, over 20 billion single-use coffee pods are produced annually. Unfortunately, the vast majority of those pods end up in landfills. Sure, (industrially) compostable, recyclable, and aluminum pods exist, but some composting or recycling facilities aren’t equipped to process them, and even the metal pods are difficult to recycle due to contamination.
One of the most significant selling points of coffee pods is convenience. However, to compost or recycle the pods, the foil tops must be removed, and the inside needs to be cleared of spent grounds and thoroughly cleaned. The process negates any convenience gained from the single-pod concept, and unsurprisingly, few consumers go through the effort.
