Asda has recycled a “milestone” 20 million coffee pods, through its instore partnership with Podback.
The Leeds supermarket has the largest network of Podback recycling points of any UK supermarket. It had helped its shoppers return more than 250,000 Podback bags via its in-store ‘ToYou’ parcel delivery counters since the partnership launched in January 2025.
It was an average of 51 bags per week, and overall equivalent to around 290 tonnes of material, Asda said.
Podback is a not-for-profit established in 2021 in an industry-first collaboration between coffee giants Nestlé and Jacobs Douwe Egberts to make it easier for customers to dispose of their used coffee pods, which are difficult to recycle via the kerbside.
It also has collection points in Morrisons, while Aldi and Ocado are also members. Podback also funds local councils to offer kerbside recycling for used pods.
Once retrieved, any remaining coffee grounds are sent for anaerobic digestion or used as soil improver, while the aluminium and plastic are recycled into new products.
“The first year of our partnership with Asda has been a very positive experience,” said Rick Hindley, Podback executive director.
“We’ve seen the number of pods being returned through Asda toYou grow across the year, proving that if recycling is simple and convenient people will make it a part of their regular routine. We’re now excited to be looking at how we build on what we’ve achieved with Asda as we continue to expand access to simple, effective pod recycling.”
Beth Fowler, Asda senior manager healthy and sustainable choices, said recycling 20 million coffee pods represented a “significant milestone” for the supermarket’s partnership with the not-for-profit.
“By providing a straightforward, convenient return service in over 600 stores, we are making it easier for our customers to make sustainable choices. As we mark Global Recycling Day today, we want to encourage even more coffee lovers to bring their pods back on their next shop in our stores.”
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