Keurig Dr Pepper Launches Compostable Coffee Pods to Reduce Waste

Coffee-pod makers have long sought a design that prevents waste from discarded plastic or aluminum. Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), a major coffee pod producer, recently introduced a solution. The company launched AltaRounds, a new coffee brewing method aimed at significantly cutting down waste.

AltaRounds consist of compressed coffee encapsulated in a seaweed-based coating sourced from France. These puck-shaped pods are sold in boxes of eight, with most varieties priced at $1.37 each, similar to traditional K-Cup pods. According to Monique Oxender, KDP’s chief sustainability officer, AltaRounds can be disposed of like regular coffee grounds. She suggests using them in compost, gardens, and for houseplants.

“You can dispose of the AltaRounds any way you would normally dispose of your coffee grounds,” Oxender said.

Previous efforts to recycle coffee pods have faced challenges. Recycling small plastic pieces is problematic for conventional recyclers. In a related issue, KDP was charged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission in 2024 for false claims regarding recyclability, which led to a $1.5 million civil penalty. This issue highlights the growing concern over single-use coffee packaging waste.

The coffee pods market, valued at $40.5 billion in 2024, is expected to expand to $58.2 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. Earth911 reports that nearly 40,000 coffee pods are made every minute, with over 20 billion discarded globally each year.

Other coffee companies have developed compostable packaging, yet doubts remain over their ability to fully decompose. A UK regulator recently blocked two companies from advertising their coffee pods as compostable due to limitations, as they only break down in industrial facilities.

James Sternberg from Clemson University emphasizes the infrastructure and economic challenges in recycling and composting as real obstacles.

“I’d say the problem is really in the infrastructure and the economy of recycling and composting,” Sternberg noted.

KDP assures that AltaRounds don’t need industrial composting. They can be composted at home like regular coffee grounds, with decomposition expected within 12-16 weeks and biodegradation within six months.

Using AltaRounds requires purchasing a new coffee maker. The Keurig Alta, available for $499.99 in a bundle with four boxes of AltaRounds and glassware, is launched with six coffee varieties, including medium and dark roast espresso, along with regular and flavored coffee options. It’s priced higher than KDP’s best-selling traditional K-Cup brewer, which costs $219.99.

KDP licenses the alginate coating technology from Delica’s CoffeeB system in Switzerland, noted for eliminating plastic waste.

Neha Mallik, senior director of product management at KDP, praised the coating’s sustainability and the protection it offers during shipping.

“We quickly realized we kind of need something to protect this and keep it together through shipping and distribution, so it comes to the consumer in one piece,” Mallik explained.

Despite the innovation, KDP has not stated intentions to phase out the traditional K-Cup, which remains compatible with the new Alta coffee maker.

“The consumer’s going to lead us on that,” Oxender stated. “In order to transition a product, you’re going to have to get to scale and the consumer is going to guide us each step of the way here.”