USA – Keurig Dr Pepper has revealed plans to introduce an innovative approach to single-serve coffee packaging, marking a significant shift towards sustainability in the industry.
The company’s latest innovation involves wrapping roasted coffee beans in a protective plant-based coating, departing from conventional plastic or aluminum materials.
The new pods, known as K-Rounds, are designed to be compatible with the new Keurig Alta brewer, forming part of a revamped Keurig system aimed at providing consumers with a seamless experience in creating a variety of hot and cold barista-style beverages, without the need for mastering complex brewing techniques.
To ensure the optimal performance of the Keurig Alta system and K-Rounds, Keurig Dr Pepper is engaging consumers in ongoing beta testing phases, with the first phase scheduled to commence as early as fall 2024.
Feedback from these trials, combined with insights from retailer and coffee brand partners, will inform further refinements to the system before its broader release to consumers.
The unique design of K-Rounds allows for brewing at both high and low pressures, catering to various brewing preferences and beverage types.
Different pod sizes will be available for specific coffee beverages, each marked with a code that the Keurig Alta brewer reads automatically to adjust pressure and extraction profiles accordingly.
After brewing, K-Rounds can be disposed of like coffee grounds and are expected to be certified compostable, reflecting Keurig Dr Pepper’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The certification process is currently underway to ensure compliance.
The development of the Keurig Alta brewer and K-Rounds is the culmination of a multi-year innovation project, incorporating significant intellectual property across beverage, pod, appliance, and manufacturing design and processes.
Keurig has also acquired a perpetual license to know-how and technology from Delica Switzerland, including a proprietary plant-based coating and application processes, enhancing its capabilities in sustainable coffee packaging.
Tim Sykes, Brand Director at Packaging Europe, acknowledges the intriguing nature of the announcement and raises pertinent questions about the efficacy of the plant-based coating in preserving coffee freshness and shelf life.
He also highlights the potential need for additional functional barriers in secondary packaging to maintain product integrity, especially considering the demanding barrier requirements typical of coffee products.
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