Asda customers have recycled over 3 million coffee pods since the start of 2025 after the supermarket launched a new coffee pod recycling service.
In January, Asda partnered with Podback to roll out a recycling service to over 600 stores.
During the 12 weeks since launching, Asda says over 50,000 bags have been returned to Asda stores using the free-to-use service.
Coffee pods are not suitable for recycling through traditional routes, due to their small size, and because they contain organic material.
Through the Podback scheme, plastic and aluminium pods are recycled in the UK. The coffee grounds are transformed by anaerobic digestion into renewable energy and soil improver.
The aluminium and plastic from the used pods are then used in the manufacture of products such as drinks cans, building products and garden furniture.
Beth Fowler, Senior Manager – Healthy and Sustainable Choices, at Asda, said: “Our partnership with Podback is focused on making it as easy as possible for customers to recycle coffee pods as part of their regular shopping routine, so we’re delighted to see such a strong uptake in such a short space of time.
“Following this initial success, we’re now looking at more ways we can extend our partnership to encourage even more coffee lovers to use the service next time they’re in our store.”
The Podback service was set up by Nestle and Jacobs Douwe Egberts in 2021. 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.
