Choose to Reuse. Choose Pod Star! June 10 2020
4 Reasons to Invest in
Stainless Steel Coffee Pods
Coffee pods are a convenient solution to get your caffeine fix. But Australia’s dependency on them isn’t good for the environment. If you want to combine your love for espresso with an urge to be green, you may need to make some novel choices.
Stainless steel coffee pods are a sustainable place to start.
These capsules give you a planet-friendly way to brew and drink with your pod machine. Whilst single-use pods take 150-500 years to breakdown in landfill, stainless steel is 100% recyclable, sustainable and durable.
Yet for dedicated drinkers, good coffee depends on many factors. It’s about that great, fresh taste, greener varieties, convenience and cost.
Here’s why it’s better to use stainless steel coffee capsules over single-use, biodegradable and compostable options.
1. Green Up Your Coffee Routine
Looking to green up your coffee routine?
Stainless steel is referred to as a green material because of its minimal impact on people and the environment. Emission footprints for air, carbon and water are low. Whereas, the material’s recyclability and reuse are at high levels. In fact, stainless steels are recycled to produce more stainless steel - an easy separation process that can be carried out indefinitely. Once recycled, it doesn’t degrade.
From a human perspective, stainless steel isn’t harmful to people during production or use. The material has a natural protective layer, which prevents corrosion and ensures longevity. It’s simple to clean, doesn’t breed bacteria and is low-maintenance.
These factors make stainless steel the ultimate reusable material. For coffee pods, using all-stainless steel capsules provides a fully refillable and waste-free alternative.
2. Responsible Recycling
Just because single-use pods are recyclable, doesn’t mean they’re going through the system.
To reduce environmental impact, recycling is reliant on consumers disposing of the pods. After all, throwing them in the wrong bin defeats their purpose. But even if you do toss them in the right bin, many material recovery facilities aren’t equipped to cope with items that small. If communities don’t have the proper facilities available, they won’t get recycled either. Many local areas don’t. Some companies have put recycling programs in place for their pods, however, it doesn’t ensure all capsules are recycled.
In Australia, 55 million coffee pods end up in landfill daily. Plastic packaging is an ongoing problem. Particularly, since China stopped collecting waste from most of the world. But it’s the mixed varieties of plastic and aluminium that makes the recycling system more complicated. Pods made from plastic or plastic with aluminium lining cannot be recycled. Composite plastics can stay in our environment for centuries. Fortunately, refillable pods are a viable choice.
Biodegradable coffee pods are a step up from plastic. However, if they end up going to landfill they act like any biological material - they break down over time, still produce methane and leave behind toxic residues. They also need industrial composting facilities to disintegrate in a restrictive time frame, with high temperatures, UV lights and moisture.
Using stainless steel coffee capsules gives you eco-friendly products to use at home. They handle the recycling problem for you by producing no waste. Unlike single-use pods which clog up landfill and release harmful methane gas.
3. Fresher Coffee
For coffee drinkers, nothing beats the smell and taste of freshly-roasted coffee beans. It’s not only about environmental impact, but that barista-feeling you get at home with a simple press of a button.
The issue with many pods is the minuscule amount of grounds, which can affect the flavour of your brew. Because they’re also pre-packed and sealed in plastic and foil, there’s no knowledge of their exact shelf life. The freshness of coffee is fleeting. But it worsens the finer the beans are ground due to greater air exposure.
To get your cafe-style coffee at home, stainless steel coffee pods allow you to use your own roasted beans. This encourages freshness and means you have more control over the taste and strength of your coffee.
Pro Tip: Want the perfect sustainable brew? We recommend grinding coffee beans to a fine-to-medium “stovetop” grind for stainless steel pods. Ask your local barista to do this, or buy it from the store pre-ground. Learn about the grind, flow and pour of your pod coffee.
4. Convenience and Cost-Effectiveness
Reusable coffee pods made from stainless steel are convenient and cost-effective.
Compared to single-use, using stainless steel coffee pods eliminates the hidden costs to you and the Earth. Premium stainless steel still offers the convenience of regular pods but maximises your savings and environmental impact. Naturally, reusing will always save you money.
If you’re looking for the right eco-friendly products for the home, contact us to see how we can help.
