Coles has introduced biodegradable coffee capsules under its home brand Coles Urban Coffee Culture.
Coles says the Organic Home Compostable Pods are made from bio-sourced cellulose and vegetable oils, which can be composted in home compost bins and break down in about the same amount of time as an orange peel.
The pods, certified by the Australasian Bioplastics Association, can be used in Nespresso-style machines.
Coles said it was inspired to create the compostable pods after noting the surge in demand for home coffee products with consumers working from home more.
Leanne White, Coles general manager, grocery, said the company wants to help consumers find a more sustainable way of drinking coffee as well as dispose of coffee capsules at home.
“Customers love the convenience of pod-based coffee machines and being able to make café- style coffee at home, but want a better solution for dealing with the used pods which can be difficult to recycle,” said White.
“We know that very few councils accept compostable packaging in their council food and organics waste bin, which is why we have worked with our suppliers to find a coffee pod solution that customers can compost at home. Composting at home is also a great way for our customers to reduce the amount of food waste going into landfills.”
The launch is part of Coles’s sustainability strategy which includes – by 2025 – packaging all of its Own Brand products in packaging that is 100-per-cent recyclable, reusable or compostable.
Coles Urban Coffee Culture compostable pods are available at Coles supermarkets nationally with an RRP of $4.50 for a pack of 10.
