Keurig Launches Compostable K-Rounds Coffee Pods for New Alta Machine

Keurig Introduces Compostable K-Round Coffee Pods and Alta Machine

Keurig, the renowned coffee machine maker, has recently unveiled a groundbreaking innovation in the world of single-serve coffee: the K-Round. This new, eco-friendly coffee pod is entirely compostable, free from plastic and metal components. The K-Round is a compact puck of coffee, compressed and encased in a plant-based, food-grade shell made from cellulose and starch. Unlike traditional K-Cups, there’s no aluminum tab to remove, no plastic cup, or internal filter to dispose of after use. Instead, the coffee is held together by a food-safe coating derived from seaweed.

Edible Ingredients and Biodegradability

The K-Rounds are composed of technically edible ingredients, including cellulose, sorbitol, sodium chloride, and alginate, which is typically harvested from seaweed or algae. These pods will biodegrade just like coffee grounds in a landfill or compost heap, making them an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional single-serve coffee pods.

Introducing the Keurig Alta

To use the new K-Rounds, consumers will need to invest in the Keurig Alta, a new machine specifically designed for these compostable pods. This marks a significant departure from Keurig’s traditional K-Cup system. However, the Alta is backward compatible with K-Cups, allowing users to continue using their favorite pods while transitioning to the more sustainable K-Rounds.

“With the K-cup, the canvas that we could paint on was always a little constrained. Now we’ve expanded that canvas for our coffee development teams and our sourcing teams to really go and paint their artistry. That’s the analogy of removing the constraint of that plastic cup. We just opened up the canvas really wide. We can bring all of our knowledge about source and roast and grind to bear.”

Roger Johnson, chief supply chain officer at Keurig, emphasizes the expanded possibilities for coffee development and sourcing that the K-Round offers.

Compostability and Environmental Benefits

Keurig aims for K-Rounds to be fully compostable by the customer, allowing them to dispose of the pods in the same way they dispose of coffee grounds. However, the company still needs to conduct some tests before the K-Rounds can be officially certified as compostable.

The use of algae in the production of K-Rounds offers significant environmental benefits. As Eleftheria Roumeli, assistant professor at the University of Washington’s Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute, explains, algae is photosynthetic and uptakes CO2, making it an excellent carbon sequestration mechanism. The natural process of cultivating algae for products like the K-Round increases the amount of carbon captured from the atmosphere.

Beta Testing and Future Release

Keurig plans to release both the Keurig Alta and the K-Rounds to broader audiences after fine-tuning them based on customer feedback. The products will enter a beta test this fall, which interested consumers can sign up for here.