TL/DR –
Keurig just got slapped with a $1.5M fine for claiming their K-Cups are more recyclable than they really are. Turns ou, those convenient coffee pods are a bigger climate offender than your ex’s gas-guzzling SUV, thanks to the greenhouse gases from their production and waste. And while Keurig insists their pods are recyclable, the SEC says it’s all smoke and mirrors since major recycling facilities aren’t even accepting them — talk about a hot mess in your morning brew!
Keurig is paying $1.5 million in penalties after the SEC charged it with misleading statements about the recyclability of its K-Cup pods.
Questions about whether Keurig K-Cups are eco-friendly have been around for years. A 2021 study found coffee pods create more emissions due to their packaging and waste.
In 2019, K-Cup and Keurig system sales were a big part of Keurig’s revenue, and environmental concerns influenced some consumers’ buying decisions, according to the SEC.
On its website, Keurig claims that by the end of 2020, all K-Cup pods were recyclable. The SEC found this misleading.
Keurig assured investors in 2019 and 2020 that its testing “validate[d] that [K-Cup pods] can be effectively recycled,” omitting that major recycling companies were not accepting the pods.
A Keurig Dr Pepper spokesperson told NPR, “We are pleased to have resolved this matter.” The company will pay the fines without admitting or denying the SEC findings.
The statement continued, “Our K-Cup pods are made from recyclable polypropylene plastic, accepted in many curbside recycling systems across North America. We urge consumers to check local recycling programs as pods are not recycled in many areas. We remain committed to better recycling systems through collaboration and policy solutions.”
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Original Story at www.npr.org
