Co-op claims it is the first UK convenience retailer to partner with nationwide coffee pod recycling service Podback, aiming to make it easier for customers and members to recycle used coffee pods in-store.
The six-month trial will see dedicated Podback-branded recycling units installed in 30 Co-op stores across southwest England and in Co-op’s three sustainability showcase stores in Leeds, Soham, and Northampton. Participating stores can be found via Podback’s online Recycle Checker, and Podback recycling bags can be ordered from its website or through participating coffee brands.
Customers can fill their bags with used pods and drop them off in-store at the designated recycling points, which Podback will collect for recycling. The scheme accepts both plastic and aluminium pods from Podback’s member brands.
Apparently, all pods are recycled in the UK. 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.
In related news, ASDA partnered with Podback at the start of this year, giving consumers the option to recycle their used coffee pods in over 600 of its stores. Podback users can recycle their used aluminium and plastic coffee pods by filling a Podback bag and returning it to the toYou parcel returns service in their nearest participating Asda store.
This summer, Podback and Morrisons reported that they had recycled over 10 million coffee pods in 2025 so far, with the top performing Morrisons store recycling 5 tonnes in just over six months. Podback units were installed in 411 Morrisons stores between January and June 2025.
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