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Are biodegradable K-cups an eco-friendly alternative? Yes, and there are a few more such planet-friendly alternatives for coffee lovers who care.

Preparing a delicious, rich, and flavorful cup of coffee using a single-serve coffee maker at home or at the office is not a rare occurrence in America. All thanks to the convenience and also the wide range of flavors and types of coffee that K-cups offer. But are we really grateful for the invention of these single-serve brewers that work with plastic-made K-cups?

No matter how much you like coffee, the truth doesn’t change that plastic capsules, now more than ever, are polluting landfills. The problem of recyclability with plastic K-cups has grown by leaps and bounds, and still continues to do so.

On that note, let us talk about the possible solutions. And whenever we do that, we’re faced with a very commonly asked question. Are biodegradable K-cups an eco-friendly alternative? Are they really viable options that can manage to solve the large-scale issue of plastic pollution? Let’s find out!

But First, K-Cups and Their Problem of Recyclability

There’s just no denying that single-serve coffee makers are popular because they’re so convenient to use. The whole reason why these brewing systems have become commonplace is that they prepare coffee must faster and also in the simplest manner. Another reason, obviously, is that K-cup flavor options are abundantly diverse and delicious.

Now here’s the deal. A K-cup is just a small-sized plastic container outfitted with an aluminum foil lid. When your coffee is dispensed, this plastic container is of no use. And that means you throw it away, right?

So what happens after that? The major part of these discarded K-cups turns up in landfills. That is when they’re not found in lakes, rivers, and ultimately the ocean. In the wild, plastic containers break down into smaller bits, thus creating both a health and environmental hazard for wildlife.

Plastic coffee pods are basically impossible to recycle because of their small size. And also because K-cups are a tightly bound combination of metal and plastic. So processing them in regular recycling plants is not possible. Special facilities are required for that, which are so few as it is.

In the year 2018, 59 billion plastic capsules for coffee were manufactured. That means around 162 million K-cups produced per day. So just imagine the state of landfills and even rivers, lakes, oceans, forests, etc.

That brings us to the most important part of the article…

Biodegradable/Compostable K-Cups - Are They the Eco-Friendly Alternative?

According to the Coffee Style Today review, there are plenty of biodegradable K-cups that coffee lovers can switch to as the solution to the increasing problem of plastic pollution in landfills.

These eco-friendly options, no doubt, are more than just recyclable. They’re also fully compostable. This means if you have a commercial composting facility available in your locality, then you can indeed put an end to the issue of single-use plastic coffee pods.

While it’s true that the biodegradable method has not yet caught on, but it’s certainly headed in the right direction. Creating a more sustainable environment is something that demands effort.

As long as coffee brands that manufacture K-cups are minimizing the negative impact of landfills up to the neck with plastic by offering the biodegradable alternative, there is hope. And the best thing you can do is support these brands. The result of which is creating a better environment for yourself and for posterity while also savoring the delicious flavors of coffee.

What About Recyclable K-Cups?

This too seems like a workable or practical solution in our opinion. Keurig, the brand responsible for inventing single-serve coffee makers and K-cups, decided to produce recyclable coffee pods. But if these are 100-percent recyclable or not remains in the dark. The new K-cup design consists of an aluminum lid and plastic body.

What’s also not guaranteed is if standard recycling plants can process these coffee pods completely. So you don’t know if they’re going to be 100-percent recyclable.

Another major concern is the availability of recycling facilities. This means that your recyclable K-cups might just reach landfills. But that doesn’t and shouldn’t underestimate the decision of brands like Keurig to manufacture such eco-friendly coffee K-cups.

It only makes sense to come up with as many solutions as possible for putting an end to the plastic pollution problem at landfills.

What About Other Eco-Friendly Alternatives?

How about eliminating the obstacle from its very source? After all, delicious coffee doesn’t necessarily have to be brewed using a K-cup, recyclable or otherwise. Keurig coffee makers brew coffee even without plastic pods. And this means preparing your most favorite beverage without harming the planet.

So here are some of the best Earth-friendly alternatives to K-cups…

1. K-Cup Free Single Serve Coffee Makers

There are plenty of single-serve brewing systems out there that prepare your dose of caffeine the most conveniently. And the best part is that there’s no amount of plastic or granule waste with these coffee makers. You brew straight into the mug your most flavorful coffee.

Then there are on-demand coffee makers too, right? These have a brewing capacity of as many as 12 cups in a single brewing cycle. So you don’t have to make do with inferior coffee just because you care about not polluting the environment with plastic K-cups. You get access to fresh-brewed coffee even in this case, no doubt about that.

2. French Press

It’s traditional and, at the same time, utterly delicious. Brewing coffee the French Press way has been a part of the coffee industry for many, many decades now. And it stills continues to be popular. Because, firstly, it delivers intense-flavored coffee. And secondly, it’s also because French Press involves no use of any plastic material, including K-cups of course.

But you do have to put in some extra effort for preparing your morning brew. Add your coffee grounds and hot water. Then let this steep for a few minutes before pressing down on the plunger.

The best part is that you can prepare French Press coffee in multiple ways to suit your taste and other personal preferences. Also, French Press coffee makers come in a portable, travel-friendly size as well to make a single cup of coffee on the go.

3. Reusable Filters

No doubt, you can switch to reusable filters from plastic K-cups. In fact, Keurig itself manufactures these reusable filters that you can attach to single-serve brewing systems. Plenty of other brands that design such coffee makers also give you that option for switching to reusable filters. So you can unhesitantly put an end to your dependency on K-cups.

Conclusion

You may think that it doesn’t matter if you alone make the switch to biodegradable or compostable coffee pods. But the truth of the matter is that IT COUNTS A GREAT DEAL.

Every small effort made in that direction brings us all a lot closer to creating a healthy, plastic-free environment. So if your little effort can save the planet, then that’s reason enough to make the switch.

And the best part about it all is that you have this eco-friendly option at your disposal now. So we can only wait for more and more composting and recycling facilities to come up in order to reduce plastic waste churning up at landfills.