One year into its merger, KDP sets fresh sustainability goals

06-Aug-2019 - Last updated on 16-Nov-2023 at 11:43 GMT

In 2018, KDP succeeded in making its K-Cup pods in Canada 100% recyclable. Pic: Getty/richterfoto

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Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) has released its first corporate responsibility report as a combined company - with a focus on the environment, supply chain, health and wellbeing and communities.

‘Drink Well. Do Good.’ is KDP's first report following its merger between Keurig Green Mountain and Dr Pepper Snapple Group last year.

2020 recyclable goals

In it, the company states it wants to make all its K-Cup pods recyclable in the US by 2020, converting to 100% recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025, and sending zero waste to landfills by 2025.

The firm also wants to improve its water use efficiency by 20% by 2025 and obtain 100% of electricity from renewable sources by 2025. In 2018, KDP succeeded in making its K-Cup pods in Canada 100% recyclable.

“In a circular economy, products must be both recyclable and recycled. We partner with material recovery facilities (MRFs), plastic recycling facilities (PRFs), processors and communities to confirm our packaging has value and can easily travel from recycling bins to recovery facilities and then a useful second life,” the report said.

KDP’s goals to improve packaging and the supply chain will result in a reduction in new plastic use and reduced carbon emissions. The company wants to responsibly source 100% of its coffee and brewers and ‘significantly improve’ the lives of one million people in its supply chain by 2020.

After the merger was completed last summer, KDP diverted 86% of its total waste from landfills in 2018, and 93% of the material redirected from landfills in Mexico is now recycled and reused.

Circular Economy

The report said, “We have committed $10m over 10 years to advance the circular economy, and our investment to date has supported such progress as 350,000 recycling carts distributed to communities across the US and over 850,000 tonnes of waste kept out of landfills.”

In its local areas, KDP plans to provide play opportunities to 13.5 million children and families over the next year. KDP has already invested more than $1m since 2016 in The Recycling Partnership, which uses seed grants to fundraise, improve and increase recycling in its US communities.

Bob Gamgort, chairman and CEO at KDP, said “We’ve set ambitious goals to ensure we are making a positive impact every day.”

“This includes expanding responsible sourcing practices across our supply chain; designing packaging to enhance circular material use, including recyclability and recoverability; reducing our environmental footprint in energy, water and waste; and building stronger communities.”