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K-Cup coffee used in the coffee maker machine is a patented, single serve packaging that holds a precise amount of perfectly ground, perfectly roasted coffee.
K cups help to make fresh brewed gourmet coffee in the machine in less than a minute. No mess or clean-up.
Are K-Cups Recyclable?
Keurig continues to seek environmentally friendly options for packaging and marketing its
K-Cups coffee and tea. The non-bleached filter paper used in the K-Cup coffee
and tea to provide an optimal taste profile is based on an environmentally friendly production process. Recyclable materials are used for the packaging of its 25 count boxes, master shipping cartons, and sales and marketing materials.
The challenge of protecting the freshness of roasted coffee while using environmentally friendly packaging is one that both Keurig
coffee maker and the coffee industry are committed to overcoming. The K-Cup is constructed from materials that insure that the ground Arabica coffee
and tea is protected from humidity, oxygen and light which accelerate the staling process. The outer barrier is a combination of a multi-layer plastic cup material and a foil laminated plastic lid. This form of packaging is also used for other single-portion products like salad dressings, sauces and butter. Due to the size of the package it is not currently economically feasible to separate the components of the K-Cup
coffee or tea after use. Accordingly, there are no federal government regulations requiring recycling of this type and size of packaging.
There are other environmental issues surrounding the brewing of coffee or tea with a K
cup that have allowed Keurig to actively support a better environment. The Keurig
coffee maker machine does not waste water because coffee is brewed one cup at a time. Glass pots and thermal carafes use water for brewing coffee by the pot which is often disposed of as waste after the coffee cools
in the coffee maker. In addition, detergents that are used in offices to clean glass pot and thermal carafe systems can contaminate our waterways. Finally, in order to sanitize glass pots and air-pots, many office coffee distributors soak them in acid baths, which are harmful to our waterways. Keurig recommends natural citric acid for all cleaning procedures and the Keurig
cofee maker requires less frequent cleaning than traditional glass pot and thermal carafe
machines.
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