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

[Katz]

What do you think about this?
seems like a good idea

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?
Would be good for work where we just throw the empty jars away, however at home glass gets recycled

What is bad about it?
as a refil pack i would expect it be to a saving on the standard pack

Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do?
yep - it's a good idea, would be helpful if they came in a variety of sizes too. A small 50g bag would be very handy for throwing into a suitcase to take on holiday when a jar might break or unlike a jar could be aprt of your hand luggage.

What else could they do to improve the sustainability?
bigger bags and nice container to decant into which you would want on you work top. Also proof that the coffee won't get damp over time and turn into a giant coffee grain!

Do you think this is a product you would buy?
If so why? If not, why not?
I'd be tempted to try it, esp if the above idea where realised. Smaller for taking away and larger for decanting into nice jars.

[CiderIUpAndSetIFree]

What do you think about this?
Great idea to reduce weight and transport costs, both in getting product to customer, and customer getting it home.

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?
Smaller and lighter to transport home
Less risk of breakage
Less of a bulky item than a jar to store, both in kitchen cupboard and recycling box.

What is bad about it?
I don?t see the point of having to post the old packaging back ? this is something I would NEVER get around to doing and I loathe with a passion having to administrate anything to do with packages, envelopes, post offices and stamps!

Also it isn?t clear from the packaging who pays for the postage ? I guess the website tells you but I?d never bother to look.

I would rather it was compostable, failing that I?d just recycle it, bin it or use it as fire kindling.

Would be annoying if someone had inadvertently chucked the old jar away!

It would be better if there was more of a cost saving to the customer ? it would also be nice to know that the growers got a cut of the cost savings too.

Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do?
Yes, can?t see why not, unless there is some hidden eco cost to producing this type of packaging as opposed to a jar.

What else could they do to improve the sustainability?
Make it a compostable bag (don?t know if this is possible)

Make larger packets (200g?) - increasing the cost savings per unit. I agree with others that it is a bit sneaky that there is a bit less coffee in a pack than in a jar, and that this isn?t immediately obvious.

Do you think this is a product you would buy?
Yes, have already bought it

If so why? If not, why not?
Main motivation for me is always cost saving (although as others have pointed out, this is minimal)

Ecological benefit and convenience are definitely plus factors

If the price were ever to be higher than buying a replacement jar, I would buy the jar I?m afraid.

[WelliesAndPyjamas]

What do you think about this? Sensible idea
What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee? Clearly more environmentally friendly
What is bad about it? on a simply selfish level, it could be messy to decant in to the jar. also I would be concerned about the freshness of the coffee.
Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do? as long as it is proven to be genuinely better for consumers and the planet and not just a marketing ploy
What else could they do to improve the sustainability? compostable bag, recycled paper
Do you think this is a product you would buy? no
If so why? If not, why not? not my brand of coffee and for real espresso I need very fresh and well sealed coffee

[LackaDAISYcal]

What do you think about this?

Essentially a good idea however one would have to consider the energy needed to make and recylce glass vs the plastic it is made from. Although this move meets the (voluntary) Courtald Commitment to reduce the weight of packaging waste, is plastic that needs to be sent back more sustainable than glass which can easily be recycled? Some information on the carbon footprint of this vs a glass jar would be useful.

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

It's lighter and takes up less space, so less transportation needed hence less carbon emmissions and less weight and bulk going to landfill if it isn't recycled.

What is bad about it? The fact it is plastic and essentially not biodegradeable

Relying on people sending it back for recycling? How many people will actually bother vs the amount sold whereas a high proportion of people already take glass to be recycled?

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

Perhaps, if the packaging was degradeable/compostable or else recycling facilities were better and it could be done locally.

What else could they do to improve the sustainability?

See above.

Do you think this is a product you would buy?

Yes, if it was a coffee brand that I already buy.

If so why? If not, why not? It is essentially a good idea and it is a step in the right direction, even though I thinkk more can be done. However, because I already recycle my glass, glass jars are no effort to me where sending this back would be a bit of a faff and it would more than likely end up in the rubbish bin and off to the landfill. As this would be something "extra" going to landfill from my house, that sits uncomfortably with me.

hth

[GeeWhizz]

What do you think about this? Very good idea
What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee? We decant our coffee into a different container anyway, so we need to recyle the jar straight away. I like the fact you post the eco refill pack back for free for recycling.
What is bad about it? I can think if nothing at the moment.
Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do? Yes, the packet is very sturdy and surely safer and lighter than manufacturing and transporting glass all the time.
What else could they do to improve the sustainability? Look into better ways of transporting from bean to store.
Do you think this is a product you would buy? If so why? If not, why not? Have just bought one last week due to promotion at Sainsburys - free refill with jar. Would be very happy to continue buying refill.

[fizzpops]

What do you think about this?
A great idea

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?
I have to carry all my shopping home so anything that weighs less is great. Less recycling for me to do too.

What is bad about it?
Have tried the packs and some of the coffee spilled out when I transferred it to the jar - I am a bit clumsy though. Price could be cheaper.

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

What else could they do to improve the sustainability?
Not sure

Do you think this is a product you would buy?
Have already bought the product as was a special offer.

If so why? If not, why not?
Would buy again for the reasons stated above.

[hotpotmama]

What do you think about this? Its the only way forward, everything should be refillable now.

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee? environmental benefit and should be a lower price.
What is bad about it? If the packaging it comes in is recyclable, then nothing, maybe should be in bigger packs to further reduce the amount of packaging we use.
Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do? yes
Do you think this is a product you would buy? yes
If so why? Hate excessive packaging.

[wilbur]

What do you think about this? I think it's a really good idea, and long overdue. Dh, in fact, thinks Kenco stole his idea.

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee? Lighter to carry and I always decant my coffee so jar goes stright to recyling anyway.

What is bad about it? The new plastic pouch still doesn't look v biodegradable, although I imagine that's pretty much impossible with a product like instant coffee. I'd be interested to see some research about the recylability (is that a word?) of the glass jars vs the plastic pouch from an eco POV.

Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do? Yes, definitely.

What else could they do to improve the sustainability? I would like to see Kenco using Fairtrade coffee, sustaining farmers as well as the planet.

Do you think this is a product you would buy? Occasionally. If my choice were limited to main brands, then yes more often, but otherwise I will stick to my Fair trade brand.

If so why? If not, why not? Not fairtrade

HTH!

[gemmiegoatlegs]

I bought the product on offer as I usually buy Kenco coffee anyway. i picked up a couple as they were cheap. It is disappointing to hear that gram for gram its still cheaper to buy the glass jar version though.

I think its a great idea in all and i think many companies could consider using far less packaging as i despir at how much i throw out, as some of it isn't recyclable or won't be taken by my local council.

[gothicmama]

In principle a good idea and not sure about the implication of sending it to be recycled although whne you look at transport cost of teh glass jars and the smaller packaging this is probably off set,

[littlefrog]

I love the Kenco jars and have several dozen in the kitchen as storage jars so am very sad at the idea of my supply of jars being cut off!

I wonder what proportion of refill packs will be returned for recycling - even 1% seems unlikely to me, most people just won't bother. But even so, I think there's less waste than there is with a glass jar (you can recycle the jar, but not the lid). Unless of course you do what I do and never throw the jar away anyway!

[Lizzylou]

What do you think about this?
It is a good idea

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?
Far less heavy to carry, I recycle anyway but lots of people don't

What is bad about it?
The contents (sorry!)

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

What else could they do to improve the sustainability?
Fair trade suppliers

Do you think this is a product you would buy?
No
If so why? If not, why not?
I don't like Kenco coffee!

[hormonesnomore]

I defiintely think all coffees should be sold in refill packs rather than glass jars for all the reasons stated here.

I won't be buying it as I don't like Kenco coffee.

[JiminyCricket]

I usually buy Kenco and have already bought some of these. An excellent idea and have started using my coffee caddy, although re-using the glass jar would be fine too.

[CheeryCherry]

I do think the idea of a refill pack is excellent and I guess the reason the refill pack is smaller is to guarantee that the contents fit into the jar easily each time.
I think though that really there should be a greater saving for the customer, as there must be substantial savings on weight/transporting costs.
May try the idea but would be happier if it were my usual fairtrade coffee.
BTW we need to reduce the plastic packaging more than the glass particularly - at least glass is easily recycled.

[kennythekangaroo]

What do you think about this? great idea
What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee? lighter, easy to carry/store and hopefully cheaper.
What is bad about it? nothing
Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do? yes
What else could they do to improve the sustainability? make it properly recyclable
Do you think this is a product you would buy? bought it already
If so why? If not, why not? -

[LovelyDear]

i saw this and asked my usual fairtrade coffee maker if they'd try it. they said they were looking into it, which is good. won't buy kenko, if fairtrade available. and although less packaging is good, the eco ones are less reyclable. i tried signing up to the terracycle website but it was very complicated.

[choosyfloosy]

What do you think about this?
I think it's a marketing exercise as non-fairtrade coffee makers have to differentiate themselves somehow from each other.

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?
I tend to assume buying any form of plastic packaging is more damaging than buying glass. This may well not be true. I assume it costs the company less to transport plastic pouches than glass jars.

What is bad about it?
Increase in plastic packaging - I don't know the efficiency ratios in recycling plastic and glass.
The 'EcoRefill' name and green slash. I currently associate green with decaffeinated so am distracted by that (although that colour connection seems to be changing). Also although I do buy Ecover products, who named themselves a long time ago, I feel personally insulted now by companies sticking a big 'Eco' on something and thinking I will actually buy it for that reason alone.

Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do?
Good God no.

What else could they do to improve sustainability?
Sell unpackaged coffee that can be dispensed into your own container via a dosage system a bit like an optic in a pub (large version obviously).
To be honest, instant coffee is probably so intrinsically unsustainable that it won't survive as a product once oil prices begin to rise again.

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

If so why? If not, why not?
I do drink instant coffee and avoid Nestle but only buy Fairtrade. I would have to be informed by a trusted third party organisation that this product was a better deal for the environment/coffee producers than Fairtrade coffee, to buy it.

[squilly]

What do you think about this? It's a very sensible idea

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

I always resented having to recycle the glass jars. It seems such a waste of resource. A tetrabag is a much better idea.

What is bad about it?

The approach they've taken in pricing is a little galling. They offer less product and charge very little less for the coffee, even though their packaging costs must be substantially lower. I'd imagine the initial set up costs would have been quite big, but the savings to them will be enormous in the long term. Shipping costs, etc will all reduce with the reduced weights involved. They'd get my vote more if they didn't try to con us with the great promotional offer they've launched with which actually equates to very little real savings for the consumer.

Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do? Yes. A little competition might actually make Kenco drop the price on this product!

What else could they do to improve the sustainability? I think they're doing o.k. with this. I can't think of anything else off the top.

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

I generally buy Kenco. I like the taste and find it a nice coffee. I will, however, buy cheaper brands if finances are tight and will always buy other brands with good offers on, eg Carte Noire or even Nescafe (at a push). The packaging is a good angle, but is it enough when you're looking at paying half price for an alternative brand?? I don't think so.

[FimbleHobbs]

What do you think about this? Brilliant idea

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?
Much less wasteful and lighter too so cheaper to transport.

What is bad about it?
I'd like it to be Fairtrade

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

What else could they do to improve the sustainability?
Not sure as I don't know enough about coffee production

Do you think this is a product you would buy?
If it was Fairtrade, yes I would.
If so why? If not, why not?

[imaginewittynamehere]

What do you think about this? Gimmick, my real coffee already comes in such packaging.
What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee? I don't I bug vacuum packed ground coffee - would like this packaging to be recyclable though - biodegradable would be fab.
What is bad about it? Nothing really
Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do? Maybe
What else could they do to improve the sustainability? 100% fairtrade, locally recyclable or biodegradeable packaging
Do you think this is a product you would buy? No
If so why? If not, why not?
don't really by instant

[TheEarthIsFlat]

Like some of the others, I've looked at this a few times in the shops and am a bit peeved at the difference in price - pennies do count. Didn't realise the packaging could be posted back so haven't done this & probably wouldn't remember to do it anyway, so nice idea in theory but not practical for time-short families. Imagine if lots of companies tried the same idea, how much extra work would it create for consumers? We already spend a lot of time sorting out recycling into different containers at home.

We buy powdered milk & this comes in cardboard boxes with a paper insert which can go straight in the recycling bins - could you do the same??

What about points, i.e. through the big supermarkets or to build up on-line? We all seem to find time to go on the computer!

On the plus side, I have bought it because of the environmental factor, I will buy it again so long as it's financially sensible to do so & I think it's a really really great idea & would love it if other companies did the same thing.

[EccentricaGallumbits]

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?
lighter transporting - less packaging - good for environment - lighter shopping bags.

What is bad about it?
I can imagine spilling the coffee all over the worktp while trying to decant it into a jar.

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

What else could they do to improve the sustainability?
Lobby local councils to collect plastic packaging at the doorstep for recycling. Ours doesn't.

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

If so why? If not, why not?
It's really still very very expensive compared to own brand coffee which I have to buy because I'm a bit poor.

[gigglewitch]

What do you think about this?
good idea, we've been buying it

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?
I'd rather re-use jars, 'normal' coffee jars are a huge waste imo even though we recycle or re-use them

What is bad about it?
not significantly cheaper than the jars, unless it's on offer two for £x.

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

What else could they do to improve the sustainability?
look at the packaging - whether foil or plastic, which will recycle most effectively etc

Do you think this is a product you would buy?
have been buying it since it first launched, we always drink kenco coffee.

If so why? If not, why not?
want to re-use jars, also would like to save money and where it was first introduced into local supermarkets it was on a promotional offer - both the environmental aspects and the cost appeal to me.

[MegBusset]

What do you think about this?
I think it is a bit of a gimmick tbh.

What do you think is good about this versus buying glass jars every time you buy coffee?
What is bad about it?
I don't think it is more environmentally friendly than glass jars -- not widely recycled by councils and will just burn more fuel being posted back for recycling. (As if many people will bother!)

Do you think this is something all coffee manufacturers should do?
No, but maybe a cardboard box that could be widely recycled would be a better idea.

What else could they do to improve the sustainability?
See above -- cardboard packaging or maybe a reusable tin you could get refilled at the supermarket (a la Body Shop)?

Do you think this is a product you would buy?
If so why? If not, why not?
No, I think it is gimmicky and in any case I am on a very tight budget so tend to buy own-brand coffee.