Aldi becomes first supermarket to join the UK’s Podback recycling scheme

Podback estimates Aldi customers could help to recycle up to 268 tonnes of plastic and 20 tonnes of aluminium per year using the initiative

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Aldi has become the first supermarket to join the UK-based Podback coffee pod recycling scheme. As part of its membership, the German retailer will introduce its own-label coffee pods to the Podback scheme and promote the free recycling service at its 980+ UK stores.
 
Podback estimates Aldi customers could help to recycle up to 268 tonnes of plastic and 20 tonnes of aluminium per year using the initiative.
 
Launched in 2021 by Nestlé and Jacobs Douwe Egberts UK (JDE UK), the Podback scheme enables consumers to register for kerbside collection or deposit spent coffee pods at more than 6,500 ‘Collect+’ points around the UK.
 
Aluminium coffee pods are reprocessed into beverage cans and car components, with plastic pods and parts used to manufacture furniture, industrial packaging and building products. Spent coffee grounds also go through anaerobic digestion to produce a combination of biogas and fertilser.
 
“We’re pleased to be joining Podback on this journey – especially as the first supermarket member. It’s important to us that we help customers do the right thing once our hot drink pods have been used, and we look forward to seeing how our partnership with Podback progresses,” said Richard Gorman, Plastics and Packaging Director, Aldi.
 
“This marks a key milestone for the programme and we are looking forward to working with Aldi to promote our service to their customers. We hope other retailers will follow Aldi’s lead and offer their own-brand pod customers the opportunity to recycle through Podback,” said Rick Hindley, Executive Director, Podback.
 
While Aldi is the first supermarket member of the Podback scheme, fellow UK retailer Morrisons made Podback recycling bags available at its stores in February 2022.
 
Coffee pod brands that can be recycled via Podback include Nespresso, Nescafé Dolce Gusto, Starbucks by Nespresso, Starbucks by Nescafé Dolce Gusto, Tassimo, L’OR, CruKafe and Artisan Coffee Co, Allpress Espresso, Colonna Coffee, Café Palmieri by Jomad Coffee and Pret A Manger.