UK grocer Co-op has this week partnered with Podback to put coffee pod recycling in 30 of its stores.
Initially launched as a six-month trial to gauge popularity among its customer base, Co-op is placing Podback units in shops to allow people to drop off their used pods for recycling.
Co-op’s south-west England stores are the testbed for the initiative, but the retailer’s three sustainability showcase stores – in Leeds, Soham, and Northampton – are also involved in the trial.
Consumers who want to engage in the coffee pod recycling can access recycling bags from the Podback website or through participating coffee brands. They then fill their bags with used pods and drop them off in-store at the designated recycling points, before Podback collects them for recycling at its UK site.
Both plastic and aluminium pods can be returned via the scheme. Coffee grounds are transformed into renewable energy and soil improver, while recovered aluminium and plastic are used in the manufacture of products such as drink cans, building materials, and garden furniture.
Scott McHarg, head of property sustainability at Co-op, said: “Recycling is a topic that our member-owners are extremely passionate about and this new trial is another way we can make it easier for our customers to do the right thing for the planet when shopping in our stores”
Rick Hindley, executive director at Podback, added: “Our mission is to give lovers of pod coffee simple and convenient ways to recycle, and Podback customers throughout the UK have responded positively to the introduction of drop-off points in retail locations because it’s easy to combine recycling with their regular routines.
“This is another exciting step towards expanding our nationwide recycling network, and we look forward to seeing how this new service develops over the coming months.”
Morrisons and Aldi are among the retailers already working with Podback for coffee pod recycling and, as of the start of 2026, the recycling units were also in 600 Asda stores across the UK.
[image credit: Co-op]
