After an initial trial claimed to recycle over half a million used coffee pods in six months, Co-op is introducing Podback recycling points across more than 200 stores.
In November 2025, a six-month trial commenced across 30 Co-op stores. Shoppers were invited to order recycling bags via Podback’s website or through participating coffee brands, fill them with plastic and aluminium recycling pods, and drop them off in-store at the designated recycling points.
Podback would then recover the pods to be recycled by UK-based processors. The leftover coffee grounds would also be used as renewable biogas or as soil improver for agriculture.
Reportedly, consumers returned eight tonnes of coffee pods over the course of the trial – thought to be the equivalent of over 500,000 used pods.
Now more recycling points are being rolled out at additional Co-op stores in south-west England and South Wales. This is hoped to improve the retailer’s environmental impact and energy efficiency, and to bring a ‘quick and convenient’ method of recycling coffee pods to more local communities.
“This is another very positive step for Podback as we expand our nationwide drop-off network, and give more people more ways to recycle coffee pods locally,” said Rick Hindley, executive director at Podback.
“We’re confident that our partnership with Co-op stores in local high streets and communities is going to make a significant positive contribution to our ongoing work to provide simple and convenient ways to recycle coffee pods. We’re excited to see how our relationship with Co-op continues to develop.”
“We’re focused on delivering social value to our members, customers and communities on the issues they care about, and support them in making sustainable choices and reducing their environmental impact,” added Scott McHarg, head of Sustainability at Co-op.
“Our stores are created to be more than just a shop, with a range of added services to make everyday life easier for consumers. We’re delighted to see the Podback trial succeed and grow, it provides an easy and convenient way for communities to make small changes to their everyday life that can create a positive and lasting impact for our planet and natural environment.”
Podback accepts plastic and aluminium beverage pods sold by its member brands, including Nespresso, Nescafé, Costa Coffee, Whittard, illy, and Artisan Coffee Co. It currently operates over 1,500 drop-off points across the UK.
In another partnership, Asda says it has collected 20 million coffee pods through Podback’s recycling scheme. Reportedly, over 250,000 Podback bags were returned to Asda’s toYou counters between January 2025 and March 2026.
Elsewhere, Nespresso Canada and Éco Entreprises Québec have expanded their ‘green bag’ coffee capsule recycling programme across all municipalities in Quebec, Canada. This is hoped to simplify the recycling process while complying with extended producer responsibility laws.
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