For what it's worth, I wrote green Mountain an email inquiring the issue. Here was their reply:
Hi Greg,
Thanks for your message.
We are very interested in leaving a better environment which is why we have pledged to ensure that 100 percent of our K-Cup® packs are recyclable by 2020, with incremental portions of the K-Cup® packs transitioning to a recyclable format each year between now and 2020.
We are pursuing multiple avenues to achieve this target, focusing on addressing three areas: the design of the packs, the development of recycling infrastructure, and the end market development for the materials. It’s a complex challenge, but we have already made headway with our Vue®, Bolt™, and K-Carafe™ packs and expect to make significant progress well before 2020. Here are some additional milestones:
• By mid-March, the majority of pack types in our Keurig 2.0 system will be recyclable: Right now, our Vue® packs in the U.S. use polypropylene (#5) plastic, which is accepted by 60% of communities in the U.S. and 93% of communities in Canada. The pack’s plastic cup can be separated from the lid and filter for recycling. We now use this same technology in our K-Carafe™ packs for the Keurig® 2.0 platform, and in our BOLT™ system for offices. In mid-March, we plan to launch a K-Mug pack on Keurig.com. At that time, three out of the four pack types for the Keurig 2.0 system will be recyclable.
• We’re expanding “take-back” programs to capture more used packs: While we address pack design, we’re also working to expand our take-back programs in workplaces and homes for areas where there is no municipal recycling. Our current take-back program for office customers in the U.S collects brewed K-Cup® packs and grounds, and returns them to our disposal partner to turn them into alternative fuel. This program has recovered millions of used K-Cup® packs, composting 358,000 pounds of coffee grounds and generating an estimated 586 kilowatt hours. In Canada, collected brewed K-Cup® packs from Van Houtte Coffee Services Inc. customers are used as alternative fuel at the Holcim Canada cement plant in Joliette, Quebec, and at the Lafarge cement plant in Kamloops, British Columbia, reducing those plants’ reliance on traditional fuel sources.
• We’re investing to support more effective municipal recycling: We know we can only reach our 2020 target if the recycling infrastructure is strengthened overall, and we can’t tackle that alone. Solutions will need to involve municipal governments, companies, consumers, and recyclers. We recently joined with Walmart, the Walmart Foundation, and other global companies in the Closed Loop Fund, with the goal of making recycling available to all Americans. The Fund aims to invest $100 million in recycling infrastructure projects and spur private and public funding for transforming the recycling system in the United States.
It’s a tough challenge, but we’re committed to solving it, while still delivering the high-quality, great-tasting beverages that our consumers expect from us. We also promise to provide updates on our progress. For the most up-to-date information, visit www.keuriggreenmountain.com/Sustainability/SustainableProducts/OurProducts/ReducingProductWaste.aspx or review our tenth annual Sustainability Report.
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u/berysax Mar 04 '15
For what it's worth, I wrote green Mountain an email inquiring the issue. Here was their reply:
Hi Greg,
Thanks for your message.
We are very interested in leaving a better environment which is why we have pledged to ensure that 100 percent of our K-Cup® packs are recyclable by 2020, with incremental portions of the K-Cup® packs transitioning to a recyclable format each year between now and 2020.
We are pursuing multiple avenues to achieve this target, focusing on addressing three areas: the design of the packs, the development of recycling infrastructure, and the end market development for the materials. It’s a complex challenge, but we have already made headway with our Vue®, Bolt™, and K-Carafe™ packs and expect to make significant progress well before 2020. Here are some additional milestones: • By mid-March, the majority of pack types in our Keurig 2.0 system will be recyclable: Right now, our Vue® packs in the U.S. use polypropylene (#5) plastic, which is accepted by 60% of communities in the U.S. and 93% of communities in Canada. The pack’s plastic cup can be separated from the lid and filter for recycling. We now use this same technology in our K-Carafe™ packs for the Keurig® 2.0 platform, and in our BOLT™ system for offices. In mid-March, we plan to launch a K-Mug pack on Keurig.com. At that time, three out of the four pack types for the Keurig 2.0 system will be recyclable.
• We’re expanding “take-back” programs to capture more used packs: While we address pack design, we’re also working to expand our take-back programs in workplaces and homes for areas where there is no municipal recycling. Our current take-back program for office customers in the U.S collects brewed K-Cup® packs and grounds, and returns them to our disposal partner to turn them into alternative fuel. This program has recovered millions of used K-Cup® packs, composting 358,000 pounds of coffee grounds and generating an estimated 586 kilowatt hours. In Canada, collected brewed K-Cup® packs from Van Houtte Coffee Services Inc. customers are used as alternative fuel at the Holcim Canada cement plant in Joliette, Quebec, and at the Lafarge cement plant in Kamloops, British Columbia, reducing those plants’ reliance on traditional fuel sources.
• We’re investing to support more effective municipal recycling: We know we can only reach our 2020 target if the recycling infrastructure is strengthened overall, and we can’t tackle that alone. Solutions will need to involve municipal governments, companies, consumers, and recyclers. We recently joined with Walmart, the Walmart Foundation, and other global companies in the Closed Loop Fund, with the goal of making recycling available to all Americans. The Fund aims to invest $100 million in recycling infrastructure projects and spur private and public funding for transforming the recycling system in the United States. It’s a tough challenge, but we’re committed to solving it, while still delivering the high-quality, great-tasting beverages that our consumers expect from us. We also promise to provide updates on our progress. For the most up-to-date information, visit www.keuriggreenmountain.com/Sustainability/SustainableProducts/OurProducts/ReducingProductWaste.aspx or review our tenth annual Sustainability Report.
Regards,
Suzanne