Our Coffee Pod Recycling FAQs

How does the coffee pod recycling process work?

The sorting and reprocessing stages are overseen by ourselves and partners in the UK, meaning we have complete visibility over what happens to our pods. After collection, the coffee pod materials will be separated from the used coffee grounds. The plastic pods are processed to produce high-grade plastic pellets which can be used by manufacturers to produce high-grade plastic items, such as furniture. The coffee grounds go through anaerobic digestion producing a combination of biogas and soil improver. This is an iterative process and we hope as our volumes of collected pods increase, we can make this process even more circular.

Where will the pods be processed and recycled?

Plastic pods will be reprocessed by Roydon in Swinton, near Manchester.

Are the bags recycled as part of this journey?

Recycling bags are recovered and used to create energy.

Why does NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto use plastic pods when other biodegradable materials are available?

Our current materials allow our pods to protect the fresh taste of our high-quality coffee by preserving all the complex aromas and flavours, so you can enjoy your perfect cup. The make-up of these materials also allows for a robustness that works with our up to 15 bar pump pressure system to deliver high quality coffee, every time. Did you know we are working with packaging material suppliers to develop plastics made from responsibly managed and renewable resources?

Why have the black coloured NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto pods changed to brown?

Since 2019, we have been progressively changing the colour of the plastic used for our pods from black to brown. We are making this change to improve the recyclability of our pods where facilities exist. The colour change makes it easier for recycling facilities across Europe to sort pod materials accurately, helping to ensure all pods collected for recycling are actually recycled successfully.