Share your thoughts about Kenco's Eco Refill pack here and be entered into our prize draw..

[OliviaMumsnet]

Some of you will remember that last year we ran a campaign with Kenco to send three lucky Mumsnetters to visit coffee farms in Costa Rica.

Well, Kenco were so delighted with the response that they now want to hear from Mumsnetters' about sustainability and the packaging for their instant coffee range.

Kenco has recently launched a new resealable Eco Refill pack and wants to find out what Mumsnetters think about it!

Everyone who posts their thoughts on this subject will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win £250 of vouchers for a store of their choice.

Some background and information....The Eco Refill pack has 97% less packaging weight compared to Kenco jars .

The packs themselves can be sent to Kenco free of charge for TerraCycle® recycling and for every pack returned they will donate 2p to the charity of your choice.
The Eco Refill pack is designed to replace the traditional glass jar that instant coffee comes in and the idea is you buy/ have a jar that you decant the granules into from the Eco Refill Pack.

Please add your own thoughts on this product and on sustainability and packaging for instant coffee below, but here are some questions to get you thinking!
What do you think about this?
What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?
What is bad about it?
Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do?
What else could they do to improve the sustainability?
Do you think this is a product you would buy?
If so why? If not, why not?
Over to you......
MN Towers

[YouDoughnut]

What do you think about this? Brilliant and I can't believe nobody thought of it earlier. I saw it on an advertising board on a bus stop and pointed it to DH.
What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee? Much better not to have to send the jar to recycle. Less bulk, easier to transport.
What is bad about it? Can't think of anything unless the plastic pouch isn't good for the environment?
Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do? Absolutely. And ideal for shampoos, etc.
What else could they do to improve the sustainability? Not sure
Do you think this is a product you would buy?
If so why? If not, why not? Yes, I would and even went round the supermarket the other day looking for it (after I saw the ad on the bus stop) but they didn't seem to stock it.

[prettybird]

What do you think about this?......Good idea - amazing it hasn't been done before
What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?......reduced weight/space should help distribution costs. Also like the fact that the pouches can be sent back
What is bad about it?..... glass if recycled (or even better re-used)is actually very "green". Tetrapack pouches of this type are actually not as green and also rely on individuals positng them pack for any recycling "credibility" - and not many will bother
Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do?.... yes
What else could they do to improve the sustainability?...... "deposits" on the pouches, redeemable at the supermarkets/sales outlets, to encouraging recycling
Do you think this is a product you would buy?..... probably not as we tend to drink "real" coffee rather than instant.

[ohmeohmy]

I think it is a good idea and one others should investigate.
Price is an issue agree slightly misleading.
while I am tempted to buy because of eco issues as it is not fairtrade I am unlikely tto.

[RorysRacingMa]

great idea in principle, but I've got enough things to do without sending empty packets to Kenco.

Is it cheaper to recycle glass than plastic?

wouldn't try them because i hate the taste of instant coffee

[SolosScrapingUpForXmas]

Fantastic idea, but I can't understand why it'staken so long to do.
YourCallIsImportant makes an excellent point re cost and misleading price advertising. I'm also one of those shoppers that stands and works out which size pot is cheapest, so Kenco needs a slap on the wrist for this.

[FoofFighter]

What do you think about this?
I think it's a very innovative idea.

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?
I would miss my glass jars personally as I do re-use them although I realise that most people don't and are otherwise contributing to waste (albeit that most people recycle glass anyway).
Be lighter to cart home

What is bad about it?
I thought the price of a refill pack would be significantly less than buying a normal jar although from comments above I can see it's only a marginal saving.

Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do?
I think it's something that lots of other manufacturers could do, not just coffee.

What else could they do to improve the sustainability?

No thoughts.

Do you think this is a product you would buy?
Probably would yes although Kenco isn't my favourite coffee brand I have to admit

[JackieNo]

I think it's a great idea - the only thing that stops me buying it is that I haven't yet seen the Kenco Colombian that we like in a refill pack. So please extend the refills to cover more of the range .

Bit disappointed that the price saving isn't better.

I guess you might be able to make it out of biodegradable material? That's the only thing I could think of to improve the sustainability. Not sure how likely people would be to actually send it back to Kenco.

[flamingtoaster]

What do you think about this? Excellent idea to have refill packs.

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee? It would be better if the package was e.g. heavy duty paper, or biodegradeable plastic that we could put on our compost heaps.

What is bad about it? Not enough price differential - and I doubt people will send the packs back, they will just get thrown out whereas the jars might be recycled.

Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do? Yes but only if the packaging is recyclable at home.

What else could they do to improve the sustainability? Find a way for us to recycle the packaging at home

Do you think this is a product you would buy? Only if the differential was more. I usually buy my coffee when it is on special offer which would make it cheaper than these eco packs.

[Goober]

Fan-bloody-tastic idea.

The only problem is I prefer Kenco's Costa Rican instant coffee.

[slalomsuki]

Fantastic idea and have bought the blue one and decanted it in to the jar.

Would love to be able to do the same for the green decaffinated version but they don't seem to be available.

Since I don't buy any other instant coffee than Kenco its fine for me and I don't mind what the other coffee manufacturers do.

Next step has got to be a cheaper jar since the glass ones are very heavy and the lids do contain a lot of plastic. You could go the way of milk and supply a container for it to be decanted in to.

How about encouraging other Kraft companies to do the same?

[theyoungvisiter]

What do you think about this?
I think it's a good idea, and it's odd that it hasn't been trialled before since ground coffee has been sold in paper packets forever.

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?
Makes a lot more sense - financially and ecologically. Plus less weight to carry home in your shopping bags. I only drink ground coffee so am used to keeping a glass jar around the house for it and it's never been a problem.

What is bad about it?
Can't think of anything.

Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do?
Yes - and other foodstuffs too.

What else could they do to improve the sustainability?
Well I suppose obviously source their coffee in a greener, more fairtrade way. I doubt they use airfreight but I'd like to reassured about that, also how they transport their coffee around the UK.

Do you think this is a product you would buy?
No

Why not?
I don't drink instant coffee, only ground [coffee snob emoticon]. But I do think it's a good idea and if I did drink instant coffee, this might make me switch brands.

[theyoungvisiter]

"The packs themselves can be sent to Kenco free of charge for TerraCycle® recycling and for every pack returned they will donate 2p to the charity of your choice."

I would like to know more about the actual green-ity of this particular bit of the promotion. It seems like pretty blatant brand-advertising disguised with a thinly applied coat of greenwash.

Can it possibly be worth it in ecological terms to send an individual packet back in the post? Or even two or three packs? I know they say you can send back multiples, but how many packs do people realistically drink?

Besides which, I note that the products will be made into Kenco branded bags and notebooks.

I can't help feeling the real purpose of this particular part of the programme is not green at all, but getting lots of kenco-branded bags and products out there under a green disguise.

Hopefully I am being over cynical and Kenco can convince me that this is actually a carbon-effective way to recycle packaging.

[edam]

1. What do you think about this?

Very good idea - why hasn't someone thought about this before?

1. What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?

It cuts down on the weight of my shopping bags (I walk to the supermarket) and is presumably much more environmentally friendly.

1. What is bad about it?

Nothing as long as the plastic can be recycled and is safe for keeping coffee (no phthalates, I hope). And it's not putting workers in glass factories out of jobs.

1. Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do?

Yes.

1. What else could they do to improve the sustainability?

Source their coffee from producers that meet the Fair Trade standards, i.e. pay the workers a living wage, do not obstruct unions, etc. etc. etc.

1. Do you think this is a product you would buy?

Yes, have got some sitting in the cupboard right now, as it happens. And yes, would buy it again.

[TrillianAstra]

If the coffee I was planning on buying was cheaper in a pouch than in a jar I would buy it. Simples. Eco-friendliness is important to me but cost is a more immediate factor. Since the transport costs for the lighter pack (and production costs of the packaging) should be less then for a glass jar I would expect it to cost less.

[bosch]

1. What do you think about this?

Very good idea and sounds good for marketing?

1. What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?

Eco-credentials of the savings that the company will have made on transport costs. Don't know the relative advantages of recycling glass and plastic lids vs recycling terracycle packaging. Worth getting somebody to independently verify that terracycle is better in the round.

1. What is bad about it?

Nothing as long as the plastic can be recycled and is safe for keeping coffee (no phthalates, I hope). And it's not putting workers in glass factories out of jobs (A BIG issue in the town where I work)

1. Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do?

Yes.

1. What else could they do to improve the sustainability?

Source their coffee from producers that meet the Fair Trade standards, i.e. pay the workers a living wage, do not obstruct unions, etc. etc. etc.

1. Do you think this is a product you would buy?

Actually at the moment, the main choices I make when buying coffee are that it's not Nestle and that it is fairtrade. If your product is both of those and more environmentally friendly, then I'd probably buy it.

Echo others thoughts that you shouldn't play too much on the 'saving money' card if you are keeping most of the savings and not passing them on to the consumer. I'd expect people to get mighty pissed off if they think that you've conned them into buying something that they think is cheaper but it is actually the about the same.)

[ChilloHippi]

What do you think about this?I think it is a great idea as it reduces packaging, the weight of transport and shopping and also the price.

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee? Lighter, cheaper, less guilt over transport of the item to get it to the shop.

What is bad about it? I can imagine that the glass jar will need washing out from time to time and it'll get mucky if it's not 100% dry when you refill it.

Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do? Maybe.

Do you think this is a product you would buy? Yes

If so why? Price and weight.

[choccyp1g]

What do you think about this?
Lighter packaging than glass probably saves on transport costs.
What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?
I always buy ground coffee, which invariably comes in packages, however, so welcome this "innovation"
What is bad about it? Price-wise as outlined above it is a con-trick.
Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do? Well obviously all manufacturers should think about sustainability of the whole product, to my mind instant coffee seems a lot of processing for nothing.
What else could they do to improve the sustainability? Use compostable packaging.
Do you think this is a product you would buy? Never buy instant coffee.
If so why? If not, why not? Cause it tastes disgusting,
Over to you......
How to make "instant" real coffee.
Boil kettle, let it cool for about 3 minutes.
Place Whittards plastic filter in mug, add ground coffee beans to taste.
After a few minutes, according to taste, remove filter with grounds. Place grounds in compost. Wash filter for re-use.
Voila!

[whomovedmychocolatecookie]

(1) What do you think about this?

Think it's a bit of a gimmick TBH. We buy vast canisters of instant coffee - are you planning to do 5kg bags? (now that would be good for me!)

(2) What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?
Don't buy glass jars, ours comes in a cardboard sided tin top and bottom canister.

(3) What is bad about it?
I did buy one actually - actually I think it was free in Sainsburys when I was buying the one glass jar of coffee I've bought this year (had to take some to preschool for a meeting) and I found my children did quite a bit of squashing of the coffee grains while between shelf and checkout which made them harder to spoon out.

(4) Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do?
No, it's a marketing gimmick - it doesn't work if everyone does it.

(5) What else could they do to improve the sustainability?
Umm make the coffee fairtrade and ensure the coffee plantations don't mess up the local environment. Make the bag biodegradable.

(6) Do you think this is a product you would buy?
If so why? If not, why not?

No. As outlined above I need a lot of coffee (I run a business that lives on caffeine and other drugs, if I run out, they run out of steam!)

[MistergodthisisSal]

What do you think about this?

• Good idea

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?

• Grocery shopping lighter/easier to carry
• Easier to dispose of once empty, as takes less space

What is bad about it?

• It's not stackable, so when buying a couple (I always need a spare coffee), it looks messy in the cupboard
• It should be cheaper to take into account the savings on packaging, or make up for it in some other way (better suppliers etc)

Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do?

• Yes

What else could they do to improve the sustainability?

• Bigger bags that you could empty into square containers would be good, will save even more on packaging

Do you think this is a product you would buy?
If so why? If not, why not?

• Yes, but only if it doesn't work out more expensive, so they need to ensure supermarkets have the same special offers (even if only occasionally) than those on glass jars

[mellifluouscauliflower]

Initially I thought this was a good idea: save on transport costs, save the environment but the more you look into it, the emptier it looked. (And I only looked at your invitation, I am really not that into Green things!)

I don't know what the figures are but from the figures it doesn't look like you are passing any of the savings on transport on to the consumers. And you are asking consumers to go to a lot of trouble for measley 2p for a charity. Do you think we have nothing better to do? Isn't recycling complicated enough without adding to the burden?

The other issue is the quality of the recycling. Your old recycled jar was made into another jar or bottle. This was useful, even though it consumed energy. The recycled products shown on your website look pretty useless: a cover for an exercise book, a shopping bag so garish no one will want to use. What's the point of recycling if it makes products that will go straight in the bin?

All in all, I can't help feeling that we haven't really made any gains for ourselves or the environment with this. Call me cynical, but I am sure Kraft stand to make something out of it.

[morningpaper]

I also never buy instant coffee, it is depressing. And what is the point of sending packs back in, when they donate 2p to charity and basically 39p to the Royal Mail?!! And how is it eco to send the packs back to be made into recycled crap - think of the carbon footprint!

Baffling.

[morningpaper]

It would be better to make a packet that you could just tear up and compost.

[morningpaper]

or turn into a sandwich bag for the kid's lunchboxes

[theyoungvisiter]

By morningpaper Thu 12-Nov-09 09:12:29
"It would be better to make a packet that you could just tear up and compost.
or turn into a sandwich bag for the kid's lunchboxes"

Quite. Or most Local Authorities accept clear plastic bottles for recycling, so why not make a stiffer pack out of this?

Most of all, why oh why make it into a Kenco-branded bag/book at the end of it? Who on earth wants to pay £7 to be a walking advert for coffee?