Keurig Dr Pepper Tests Plastic-Free Pods, Powers Innovation With Consumer Learnings
Consumer goods company Keurig Dr Pepper, home to brands like Green Mountain, Donut Shop Coffee, and Swiss Miss, has developed a multi-year strategy for incorporating consumer insights into its product design processes.
The company said it is reimagining its Keurig single-serve brewing system, eliminating plastic- or aluminum-based pods to instead package pressed coffee beans within a protective plant-based wrapping that can be directly inserted into new Keurig Alta brewers.
Over the next several years, the pods will undergo beta testing phases, accruing feedback from consumers to develop learnings that will be supported by retailer and coffee brand partner insights. Keurig Dr Pepper will then use this data to refine and optimize its efforts before launching on a wider scale.
CEO Bob Gamgort said the new innovation will redefine how consumers brew their coffee and will reflect the company’s commitment to sustainability, quality, and variety. The first beta test is set to begin this fall.
More About K-Rounds
The plastic-free pods will include a code that Keurig Alta brewers automatically read to assign specific pressure. They will allow brewing at both high pressure for espresso-based beverages and low pressure for regular, drip coffee (which can be served both hot and cold). Consumers can dispose of these pods as they would regular coffee grounds — and they are expected to be certified compostable in the near future.
The company said these pods incorporate “significant intellectual property in beverage, pod, appliance, and manufacturing design and processes.” Additionally, Keurig Dr Pepper is leveraging licensed data and technology from Delica Switzerland, including to develop the plant-based coating and application process.
While Keurig Dr Pepper is moving forward with its sustainable, plastic-free pods, existing K-Cup pods will continue to function with the new Keurig Alta brewer, the company said.
Related Innovations
In addition to K-Rounds, the company recently announced the following innovations:
1. Keurig’s new K- Brew + Chill Brewer: It uses QuickChill Technology to first brew hot to extract flavor and then flash-chill the coffee so that it is three times colder than Keurig’s current Brew Over Ice technology. This is achieved in less than three minutes. The product will launch in fall 2024.
2. Keurig will be launching a mail-back recycling program for K-Cup pods (made from polypropylene, or plastic No. 5) on its e-commerce site for consumers who can’t recycle their coffee pods locally. Not all communities that accept polypropylene accept K-Cup pods; however, the company is working to expand recycling acceptance.
Keurig Dr Pepper isn’t the only consumer goods company with recycling on its mind. Coca Cola has been innovating in this space as well, recently launching a UK-based packaging initiative that is allowing its Sprite brand to go temporarily label-less in order to boost recycling efforts.
Additionally, last year, Nestle piloted paper-wrapped KitKat chocolate bars in select stores across Australia, and Kraft Heinz tested a paper-based bottle made from sustainably sourced wood pulp for its ketchup bottle.
Gartner says that 20% of organizations are focusing on reducing their packaging’s carbon footprint between 2023 and 2026.
